China playing key global role as UN marks 75 years

The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and also the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, a challenge that calls for the sort of international cooperation that the organization champions.

General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has combined the 75th anniversary and the need to combat the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease it causes for the theme of the 75th session of the General Assembly, which is titled The Future We Want, the United Nations We Need: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism – Confronting COVID-19 Through Effective Multilateral Action.

The UN General Assembly on Sept 11 adopted a wide-ranging resolution to encourage international cooperation in response to COVID-19 that acknowledges the leadership role of the World Health Organization and the UN.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the once-in-a-century transformations unfolding in our world. We are entering a period of turbulence and change, and witnessing the rise of protectionism, unilateralism and bullying practices," China noted in its position paper on the 75th anniversary, which was issued on Sept 10 and which reiterates the nation's commitment to "peace and development".

China insisted it will work with countries to uphold and carry forward multilateralism.

Even while under the tremendous pressure of controlling the novel coronavirus, China has moved quickly to provide as much assistance to the international community as it can, the paper added.

The white paper Fighting COVID-19: China in Action recorded as of May 31 that China had sent 29 medical expert teams to 27 countries, and offered assistance to 150 countries and four international organizations.

The paper issued by China's State Council Information Office in June noted that the country had provided two amounts of cash support totaling $50 million to the WHO, assisted the organization in purchasing personal protective equipment and establishing reserve centers of supplies in China, and helped its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to raise funds in China. It had also participated in the WHO's Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator initiative, with the aim of speeding up the development, production, and equitable distribution of new tools.

China has instructed its medical teams stationed in 56 countries to support the fight and provide counseling and health information to local people and overseas Chinese. They have, so far, organized more than 400 online and offline training sessions. Local governments, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in China have donated materials to more than 150 countries and regions, and international organizations through various channels, the paper said.

China has also ensured that the basic needs of its 1.4 billion people are met. This year, China will lift out of poverty all of its rural residents living below the current poverty line, and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This, the position paper stated, will be a great contribution to human progress.

Now, China has become the second-largest contributor to the UN's regular and peacekeeping budgets, and the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, having taken part in the handling of almost all major international and regional hotspot issues, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the French Institute of International Relations last month.

According to the position paper, China has registered an 8,000-strong standby force and a 300-member permanent police squad for UN peacekeeping missions. Six of its standby contingents have been elevated to Level Three in the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. As such, China is now making a major commitment among UN member states.

The China-UN Peace and Development Fund has provided a total of $67.7 million for more than 80 projects, supporting the UN's efforts in areas including peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, energy production, agriculture, infrastructure, health, and education.

China has assisted other developing countries with 180 poverty-reduction projects, 118 agricultural cooperation projects, 178 aid-for-trade projects, 103 projects on ecological conservation and climate change, 134 hospitals and clinics, and 123 educational and vocational training institutes.

The South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund has supported more than 80 projects in at least 30 developing countries, injecting impetus for global sustainable development.

China has also made important contributions to women's development around the world. With a donation of $10 million to UN Women, China is the largest contributor among developing countries. It has completed 133 health projects for women and children and invited more than 30,000 women from other developing countries to training programs in China.

All initiatives and measures China announced in support of the work of the UN at the 2015 summit meetings commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations have been delivered.