■ The 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations
On the evening of October 25, 1971 local time, people in the United Nations Conference Hall in New York, the United States, stared intently at the huge electronic ticket counting display. At 23:20, the number showing the voting result finally jumped to a halt. The Twenty-sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by 76 votes in favour, 35 against and 17 abstentions, restoring all the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. On this day, a new page has been opened in the history of the United Nations, and a new chapter has been opened in china's cooperation with the United Nations.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legitimate seat of the United Nations by the People's Republic of China, nanfang Daily launched a series of reports interviewing senior translators of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who experienced the restoration of the legitimate seat of the United Nations in New China, as well as members of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations who are fighting in the frontline of diplomatic work to witness China's participation in United Nations affairs. Listen to them talk about their indissoluble relationship with the United Nations, and look back at the fruitful results of China's cooperation with the United Nations over the past 50 years.
In October 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly was held in New York, and the restoration of the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations became one of the core issues of the General Assembly. During this period, the Western camp, led by the United States, held a fierce debate with the vast number of developing countries.
From October 18 to 24, 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly focused on the issue of China's representation, and the meeting was held for 12 sessions, with as many as 74 speakers, and the atmosphere was unprecedented. On the evening of the 25th, the participants voted on the "two-Arab proposal" put forward by 23 countries, including Albania and Algeria. By an overwhelming majority of 76 votes to 35, with 17 abstentions, the proposal was adopted by an overwhelming majority.
Shi Yanhua, a member of the first batch of China's permanent missions to the United Nations and former director of the Translation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later learned that until the last moment, many of the initiators of the "two Arab proposals" were not completely sure of the final victory. "After the proposal was adopted, many of the delegates were pleased with it, and many of them ran to the representative offices of the initiating countries to congratulate them." Shi Yanhua said.
Shi Yanhua. Courtesy of respondents
Zhou Enlai instructed Kissinger to keep it a secret
On the morning of October 26, 1971 Beijing time (the evening of the 25th EASTERN time), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a telegram from then Un-Secretary-General U Dan, informing the Chinese side of the UN General Assembly to adopt Resolution 2758 to restore all the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, and inviting China to send a delegation to attend the 26th SESSION of the UN General Assembly.
At this time, Premier Zhou Enlai was holding talks with the then US President's National Security Adviser Kissinger on his second visit to China. Shi Yanhua, then 32, and other colleagues in the Translation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carefully translated the message and reported it. Zhou Enlai, who learned of the good news, specifically instructed Qiao Guanhua, then vice foreign minister, to keep kissinger tight on the news. "Telling Kissinger, who is in the midst of a spring breeze at this time, will embarrass him, which is not in line with the prime minister's way of dealing with the world." Shi Yanhua said.
Qiao Guanhua, who went to the airport to see off Kissinger, did not disclose any information to Kissinger according to the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai, but only asked: "Do you think New China can restore the seat of the United Nations this year?" Kissinger replied: "Probably another year, after President Nixon's visit to China." Qiao Guanhua laughed after listening to Yang Tian and said, "I can't see it!" ”
The US media later reported that when Kissinger's special plane that had finished his visit to Beijing had just taken off from Beijing, Kissinger saw the telegram sent by the translator. Kissinger, who had a bitter smile on his face, said to his assistant: "I said that just the proximity between China and the United States will bring about a revolutionary change in the international situation." Even I don't know enough about this. ”
"Joe's laughter" became a symbol of China's diplomatic self-confidence
After the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Chairman Mao Zedong for instructions, Mao Zedong personally made a decision: "Immediately form a group and leave!" Shi Yanhua was sent to New York with her husband, who was also working in the translation office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time and later serving as China's ambassador to France. Shi Yanhua and Wu Jianmin, one is an English translator and the other is a French translator, and colleagues all quipped: "The 'Anglo-French coalition' is going to hit the United Nations!" ”
"When the plane was about to arrive in New York, the captain informed us that nearly 500 reporters at JFK were waiting for us." On November 11, 1971, after nearly 30 hours of flight, the Chinese delegation arrived at New York JFK Airport. "As soon as we stepped down the gangway, we were greeted by a black press of journalists, which was really unprecedented." Shi Yanhua recalled that at that time, the United States attached great importance to the Chinese delegation and sent more police forces to guard the hotel where the Chinese delegation was staying. A large number of American media set up "long guns and short guns" in the lobby of the hotel to pay attention to the delegation's every move.
This is Shi Yanhua's first visit to the United States and the first time that the delegation of the People's Republic of China has visited the United Nations. The moments when shi Yanhua first came to the United States on behalf of the People's Republic of China 50 years ago, Shi Yanhua still remembers it vividly. At the time, Chinese diplomats were mostly dressed in dark gray or dark blue, and the members of the delegation, who had come from China from afar, could be recognized from afar on the streets of New York.
On November 15, 1971, under the leadership of Qiao Guanhua, the Chinese delegation, shouldering the heavy trust of the people of the whole country, walked into the venue of the United Nations General Assembly and was warmly welcomed by the representatives of most countries. A reporter seized the opportunity to interview Qiao Guanhua, who had just taken a seat, and asked him how he felt at this time. Qiao Guanhua looked up and laughed heroically, and this classic picture was frozen by the media reporters present and accompanied by the headline "Joe's Laughter" in the news report of the next day.
Qiao Guanhua (left) laughed loudly at the conference, which became a historical classic shot. On the right is Huang Hua, the first Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations.
"Joe's Laughter" became a symbol of China's diplomatic self-confidence and later won the Pulitzer Press Photo Award. Shi Yanhua also clearly remembered that on that day, the auditorium and the audience in the UN conference hall were full of people, and those who had no place stood and listened, and the scene was very spectacular.
As one of the first batch of translation talents cultivated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shi Yanhua recalled his experience over the years with great emotion. "Joining the United Nations is the proudest moment of my diplomatic career." She said emotionally.
[Reporter] Zhao Yusheng Peng Yifei
【Planner】Liu Jiangtao
【Coordinator】 Zheng Youzhi Li JayLen
【Author】 Zhao Yusheng; Peng Yifei; Jay Lee
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