Commemorating 50th anniversary of restoration of PRC's lawful seat in UN | China is always a protector of multilateralism

Over the past 50 years, China has vigorously promoted the spirit of multilateralism, firmly upheld the international system with the United Nations at its core, and firmly upheld the international order based on international law.

China has always emphasized the irreplaceable role of the UN in matters of war and peace, survival and development, fairness and justice, and has insisted on promoting consultation and solution to relevant issues under the leadership of the UN and safeguarding the legitimacy, authority and effectiveness of the UN. China is unequivocally opposed to unilateralism outside the UN framework, unilateral sanctions and “long-arm statute”.

China has participated extensively in international treaties and mechanisms and has acceded to almost all intergovernmental international organizations and more than 500 international conventions. It has firmly upheld the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, actively promoted the process of plurilateral trade liberalization and upheld the legal status of the dispute settlement mechanism. We actively participate in the work of relevant arms control bodies and conferences within the UN framework, and take part in the negotiation of multilateral arms control treaties such as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. China has participated in the deliberations of the Legal Committee of the General Assembly and in the drafting and formulation of important international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has also actively participated in the work of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights bodies, and promoted the formulation of international human rights instruments and of the opposition to colonialism and apartheid.

China adheres to genuine multilateralism that is open, inclusive, consultative and cooperative, and based on the rules of international law. The “Belt and Road” initiative is a vivid reflection of China's practice of multilateralism. China has been widely recognized for providing multilateral public goods to the international community, and UN Secretary-General Guterres has praised China as a “pillar of international cooperation and multilateralism”.

Fifty years have passed in a flash, and the commemoration is for embarking on another long journey. For 50 years, China has made unremitting efforts for the UN to maintain international peace and development. Looking forward, China is confident about the future of the UN and will continue to cooperate with it, not forgetting its original intention, and move forward to make new and greater contributions to promoting the building of a community of shared future for mankind.

Contributed by Liu Qing, Invited expert of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy research center, vice- director of China Institute of International Studies

Translated by Wang Ruoxin