Premier Li Keqiang is to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 18-21, and to offer the Chinese measures to help promote peace and development of the international community, said a Chinese diplomate on Sunday.[Special coverage]
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said during an interview with Xinhua that, as the world's most authoritative and representative intergovernmental organization, the UN has been contributing heavily to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development since its founding in 1945.
"Against the backdrop of the current complicated international situation, the role of the UN has never been so important," said Liu.
This year also marks the 45 anniversary of the restoration of China's seat in the UN. As a firm supporter and practitioner of multilateralism, China will contribute its efforts in protecting world peace and motivating development, the Chinese diplomat said.
First, China will lead international development and cooperation, and promote implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"As the world's largest developing country, China has a unique advantage in implementing creative, harmonious, green, open and shared development, as well as promoting development and cooperation among countries," the Chinese envoy pointed out.
In early September, China successfully hosted the Group of 20 Summit. For the first time China put the issue of development on top of its world policy agenda, thus injecting vigor in global development, Liu recalled.
Second, China plans to play a bigger role in safeguarding international peace and security.
"Among UN Security Council permanent members, China sends the largest group of peacekeepers to overseas posts," Liu said, "China is also the second largest peacekeeping funder."
"China has always been proposing to peacefully solve disputes through dialogue and negotiation, and safeguard security through joint, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable efforts," he added.
Third, China firmly supports a "strong and robust" role for the UN.
China is one of the founding members of the UN, and the third largest fee payers among UN members, Liu said. Since the restoration of China's seat in the UN in 1971, China has always been defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
"Under the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-for-all, China adamantly supports the multilateral cooperative work of the UN, and helps push its work in various fields to move forward," the Chinese diplomat said.
During the UN's 70th anniversary summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will establish a 1-billion-dollar China-UN peace and development fund to support the UN's work, creating a new scenario of China-UN cooperation, Liu noted.
"China's endeavor of keeping international peace and promoting common development is always on the way, and will not stop," the Chinese envoy concluded.
