From Chinese Mission to the United Nations
President,
China welcomes Slovenia’s initiative to convene this open debate on Leadership for Peace, and thanks former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and associate professor Anjali Dayal for their briefings.
The two World Wars of the last century inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of all countries. The United Nations was born amid the aspiration to turn swords into plowshares, opening a new chapter in humanity’s pursuit of peace and development.
Over the past 80 years, generation after generation has been working tirelessly for peace and speaking out for justice. As we stand at the starting point of the next 80 years, confronted with a world marked by transformation and turbulence, the questions before us are clear: where is the world headed? Where is peace to be found? China believes that four points are essential.
First, we must uphold fairness and justice and lay a solid foundation for lasting peace. Militarism and fascism once brought unprecedented catastrophes to humanity. Any erroneous remarks and acts to whitewash or overturn the history of aggression challenge the bottom line of human conscience and undermine the hard-won peace. We must uphold a correct view of the history of World War II, safeguard the victorious outcomes of World War II, and defend the post-war international order. We must adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the sovereign equality of all states, large and small, oppose unilateralism, hegemonism, and power politics, advance the democratization of international relations, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs.
Second, we must remain committed to political solutions as an effective pathway to peace. Peace is achieved not through force, but through negotiations. Any conflict is to be ended at the negotiating table. In addressing conflicts and disputes, we must promote dialogue for peace, encourage consultation and negotiation, and help all parties build mutual trust, manage differences, and forge consensus. We must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties. Major countries, in particular, should demonstrate commitment and play a constructive role, refrain from double standards or imposing their will on others, and still less, avoid fueling conflicts for narrow self-interests.
Third, we must prioritize development and address the root causes of conflicts and wars. Without development, peace cannot be sustainable and conflicts cannot be truly resolved. We should uphold the concept of development as a driver of peace, support conflict-affected countries in enhancing their self-driven development capacity, improving people’s livelihoods and well-being, narrowing wealth gaps, and strengthening education, employment, public services, and other safeguards, so as to pursue development paths suited to their national conditions and eliminate the breeding ground for violence. The international community must place development at the center of the multilateral agenda, continuously step up resource mobilization and investment, and resolutely implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Fourth, we must uphold multilateralism and strengthen international synergy in safeguarding peace. The international system with the UN at its core has underpinned global peace and development. The more uncertain the future, the more we must practice true multilateralism, uphold the role and authority of the UN, and ensure that the Security Council fulfills its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Regional organizations such as the African Union, the League of Arab States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should leverage their respective strengths and enhance coordination and cooperation with the UN. At China’s initiative, the Group of Friends of Global Governance was officially established recently to uphold multilateralism, jointly address global challenges, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system. The Group is an open and inclusive platform, and we welcome more like-minded partners to join.
President,
Leadership for Peace begins with cherishing peace and upholding justice. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At a time when the international community is jointly reflecting on history and planning for the future, it is outrageous that Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has gone against the trend by claiming that the so-called survival-threatening situation for Japan is linked to Taiwan of China, and by implying and threatening that Japan would militarily intervene in the Taiwan question. This constitutes a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, openly contravenes the commitments made by Japan as a defeated state in World War II to China and the international community, directly challenges the victorious outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order, violates the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and poses serious risks to peace in Asia and globally. The lessons of World War II are still fresh. 80 years ago, Japanese militarists expanded armaments under the pretext of so-called survival-threatening situation, and launched external aggression in the name of self-defense, bringing profound catastrophes to China, the wider Asia, and the whole world. 80 years on, we must never allow the resurgence of militarism and fascism. China, once again, urges the Japanese side to retract these erroneous remarks, earnestly reflect upon and repent the wrongdoings, and refrain from continuing down the wrong path.
Here, I wish to clearly point out that Japan’s return of Taiwan, which it had unlawfully seized, to China, constitutes an important component of the post-war international order. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of China. This is an ironclad fact jointly affirmed in political and legal terms. The unconditional surrender announced by Japan in 1945 and the ceremony to accept surrender in Taiwan, province of the China theater, held by the Chinese government provide clear proof. So do international legal instruments and relevant bilateral political documents, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, GA Resolution 2758, relevant legal opinions of the UN, the Sino-Japanese joint statement, and the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
President,
Traditional Chinese culture has long upheld the values of peace as paramount and harmonious coexistence. For thousands of years, peace has been in the blood of the Chinese nation and the DNA of the Chinese people. On issues of peace and security, China has the best record among major countries. President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, charting a blueprint for a world of universal security and shared prosperity. China will continue to work with all countries, guided by the implementation of these four global initiatives, to actively promote the building of the community with a shared future for humankind and to contribute to the cause of world peace and development.
Thank you, President.
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