President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a commemorative meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 9, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the restoration of all the rights of the People's Republic of China's in the United Nations 50 years ago as a victory of the Chinese people, and the people from all countries around the world.
Xi made the remarks in Beijing at a commemorative meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the UN.
The past five decades since the PRC restored its lawful seat in the United Nations have witnessed China's peaceful development and its commitment and dedication to the welfare of all humanity, President Xi said on Monday.
Xi said that the restoration was a momentous event for the world and the UN, which was of significant and far-reaching importance for both China and the wider world.
The restoration of the PRC's UN seat marked the return of the Chinese people, or one-fourth of the world's population, back to the UN stage, Xi said.
The restoration came as a result of joint efforts of all peace-loving countries that stood up for justice in the world, Xi said.
President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the restoration of all the rights of the PRC in the United Nations 50 years ago as a victory of the Chinese people, and the people from all countries around the world
China has blazed a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and carries distinct Chinese features, thus making major contribution to human rights progress in the country and the international human rights cause, Xi said.
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Xi stressed that China has acted by the spirit of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and earnestly applied the universality of human rights in the Chinese context.
Xi also said the Chinese people have always upheld international equity and justice, contributing significantly to world peace and development
The Chinese people have always upheld the authority and sanctity of the United Nations and practiced multilateralism, and China's cooperation with the UN has deepened steadily for the past 50 years, he added.
The Chinese people are peace-loving people and know well the value of peace and stability, Xi said. "We have unswervingly followed an independent foreign policy of peace, stood firm for fairness and justice, and resolutely opposed hegemony and power politics," Xi added.
President Xi Jinping remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 21, 2021, at UN headquarters. (SPENCER PLATT / POOL PHOTO VIA AP)
Xi also said the Chinese people are a strong supporter of other developing countries in their just struggle to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests.
The Chinese people are committed to achieving common development, Xi noted. "From the Tazara Railway to the Belt and Road Initiative, we have done what we could to help other developing countries, and have offered the world new opportunities through our own development," Xi said.
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People-centered development
He called on the world to follow the prevailing trend of history, and choose cooperation over confrontation, openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games.
President Xi also called on countries around the world to put their people front and center, and strive to realize development with a higher level of quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security
"We shall be firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism," Xi said.
"International rules can only be made by the 193 UN member states together, and not decided by individual countries or blocs of countries," Xi said.
At the same time, international rules should be observed by the 193 UN member states and there is and should be no exception, Xi noted.
He stressed that countries should respect the UN, take good care of the UN family, and refrain from exploiting the organization, still less abandoning it at one's will.
Xi also called on countries around the world to put their people front and center, and strive to realize development with a higher level of quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security.
Whether a country's path of development works is judged, first and foremost, by whether it fits the country's conditions, whether it follows the development trend of the times, whether it brings about economic growth, social advancement, better livelihoods and social stability, whether it has the people's endorsement and support, and whether it contributes to the progressive cause of humanity, he said.
Members of China's 5th peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan take a military exercise in South Sudan, on Jan 4, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Noting that development is meaningful only when it is for the people's interests, and can sustain only when it is motivated by the people, Xi said that it is also important to strengthen the people's capacity for development, foster a development environment where everyone takes part and has a share, and create a development paradigm where its outcome benefits every person in every country more directly and fairly.
Shared future for mankind
The human race is an integral community and Earth is our common homeland … No person or country can thrive in isolation … We should keep moving toward a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly create a better future.
Xi Jinping, Chinese President
Xi said humanity should overcome difficulties in solidarity and pursue common development in harmony.
"The human race is an integral community and Earth is our common homeland," Xi stressed. "No person or country can thrive in isolation."
"We should keep moving toward a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly create a better future … let us join hands, stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress, and work tirelessly for the lasting and peaceful development of the world." he said.
Xi called on countries to create the greatest synergy for building a better world, making more efforts to vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and work together to provide the right guiding philosophy for building a better world.
To build a community with a shared future for mankind is not to replace one system or civilization with another, Xi said.
"Instead, it is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures and levels of development coming together for shared interests, shared rights and shared responsibilities in global affairs, and creating the greatest synergy for building a better world," Xi said.
Xi also urged the world to step up cooperation, and work together to address the various challenges and global issues facing humanity, reiterating China's commitment to peaceful development, reform and opening-up and multilateralism.
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The international community is confronted by regional disputes as well as global issues such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity, Xi noted. "Only with more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral mechanisms and more active regional cooperation, can these issues be addressed effectively."
"Standing at a new historical starting point, China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace. China will stay committed to the path of reform and opening-up and always be a contributor to global development. China will stay committed to the path of multilateralism and always be a defender of the international order," Xi said.