PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Mr. President,

Please allow me to extend my warm congratulations on your assumption of the Presidency of the current session of the UN General Assembly. I am confident that with your wisdom and experience, and with the support and coordination of the member states, the Millenium Assembly will successfully accomplish all its work. At the same time, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to Mr. Gurirab for the contribution he made as President of the last session of the General Assembly.

Mr. President,

The Millenium Summit, which has attracted worldwide attention, has just concluded. The United Nations Millenium Declaration is what world leaders at the Summit agreed upon on how to meet the major challenges facing mankind today. The Declaration reviews and sums up the course that the UN has traversed in the past 55 years. More importantly, it offers a blueprint for the UN in the new century and new millenium and important guidance to people around the world in their pursuit of peace, development and common progress. I would like to add my voice to the call to action made by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the closing ceremony of the Summit. We should work together to turn the consensus reached at the Summit into actions and usher in a new era of peace and development for people all over the world.

It is the primary mission of the UN in the new century to hold fast to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote democracy in international relations, maintain world peace and stability, and facilitate development and prosperity of all countries. The UN Charter is a manifestation of the people's ideal and pursuit of equality, justice and freedom. It is precisely because it has kept to the purposes of the Charter in safeguarding peace, developing friendship and promoting cooperation and its principles guiding international relations such as the core principles of sovereign equality and non‑interference in each other's internal affairs over the past 55 years that the UN has grown from strength to strength and its membership from 51 to 189. This organization is still playing an irreplaceable role in world affairs. The history of the past 55 years has amply proved the effectiveness of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Today, global issues have made our interests intertwined and modern technology has made our communication easier . In these circumstances, we need, more than ever, to face up to the common challenges together on the basis of equality, mutual respect and democratic consultation. The purposes and principles of the Charter are by no means outdated, but rather, they are of greater relevance today.

Democracy in international relations requires compliance with the principle of sovereign equality as provided for in the UN Charter. Countries do differ in terms of size, strength and wealth, but they are all equal members of the international community. None of them should be discriminated against and their state sovereignty brooks no encroachment. The internal affairs of a country should be managed by the people of that country and major world affairs should be decided by all countries through consultation. Response to global challenges calls for worldwide cooperation and coordination. This is required by progress of our times and necessitated by the establishment of a fair and just new international political order. It is also the foundation and source of vitality for the UN in the new century.

The reform of the UN should give full expression to democracy in international relations. The reform is aimed at better safeguarding the fundamental rights and interests of all member states and, especially, truly reflecting the will of developing countries, which make up the bulk of the UN membership. It should not merely satisfy the needs of a few countries. And the reform of the Security Council should primarily aim at increasing representation of developing countries. And this reform should be based on extensive deliberations among member states. It is against the will of the overwhelming majority of the member states to arbitrarily set deadlines or force the passage of immature plans. There is a general agreement among the UN member states on basing the scale methodology of regular budget and peacekeeping assessment on the principle of capacity to pay. This methodology is also one that is confirmed time and again by the General Assembly through its resolutions and, therefore, should be abided by in whatever circumstances. To introduce any adjustments to this methodology, we must give full consideration to the specific economic conditions in developing countries. Such adjustments should be made only when there is consensus among all member states through extensive consultation, thus facilitating the normal and sound operation of the UN.

Another important historical task facing the UN is to respond to globalization and realize common development of mankind. The 20^th century has seen both unprecedented economic prosperity and the greatest polarization. In the last decade of the century, economic globalization has advanced at the fastest speed while the gap between the North and the South has continued to widen. The World Bank data shows that the revenue of the low‑income countries accounts for only 6% of the world's total though they take up more than half of the world's population while that of the developed countries 80% with only one sixth of the world population. It is especially worrisome that there is even a bigger gap between developing countries and developed ones in the hi-tech field. The "New Economy" is so far only prospering in rich countries. Most developing countries are still information have‑nots. Should such a situation be allowed to continue, many developing countries would, for a long time, be deprived of the opportunity of being part of technological progress and economic growth and the world would be further polarized.

To prevent poverty from swallowing up achievements of development and to prevent social injustice from shaking the basis of global stability, the UN must play its due role in narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor and bringing about common prosperity to the world. It is an unshirkable major responsibility of the UN in the new century to promote the establishment of a new international economic order based on cooperation on an equal footing and aimed at common development, and ensure economic globalization benefit everybody in the world.

The UN should give top priority to the issue of development, make efforts to change the current situation in which global economic affairs are dominated by only a few countries and ensure developing countries their right to equal participation in economic decision‑making. In making or revising global economic rules of the game, consideration should first be given to the need of developing countries in order to facilitate their development and reduce the risks they might run when participating in globalization. The UN should also mobilize all the resources available and encourage the international community to narrow the "digital divide" and help developing countries to seize, as far as they can, the opportunities brought about by the scientific and technological advancement driven by the information revolution. The UN also has the responsibility for introducing new rules to the world to make science and technology truly serve all mankind and the lofty cause of peace and development in the world.

Mr. President,

As drastic and profound changes are taking place in the international situation, what kind of security concept should be embraced is a major subject before the UN and all its member states.

Global strategic stability is the foundation on which world security rests. And the 1972 ABM Treaty is an important cornerstone for global strategic stability. Any move to undermine the totality and effectiveness of the Treaty will have a profound negative impact on world peace and security. The proposal for a national missile defense system that is prohibited by the ABM Treaty is essentially aimed at seeking unilateral military and strategic supremacy and thus a typical example of the Cold War mentality. Such a plan, if implemented, will only bring serious negative consequences to the security of the whole world. The adoption by the General Assembly of the Resolution on Preservation of and Compliance with the ABM Treaty at its 54^th session with an overwhelming majority is an indicator of the firm will of most countries in the world to maintain and strictly observe the ABM Treaty. The UN should continue to show serious concern over the attempt by a certain country to develop a missile defense system to the detriment of the global strategic stability and it should take necessary measures to stop this dangerous development.

Security is mutual and relative. No country should enhance its security at the expense of the others. To seek "absolute" unilateral security is not feasible and will lead to greater insecurity. With increased international contacts and exchanges, countries of the world will find themselves sharing more common interests and facing more common challenges. Security can only be realized through dialogue on an equal footing and in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, maintained on the basis of mutual respect and peaceful, coexistence, and consolidated through mutually‑beneficial cooperation and common development. The only way to protect the fundamental interests of all countries and enhance the universal security is to replace the old security concept based on military alliances and military build‑up with a new one that is characterized by equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, cooperation and settlement of disputes through dialogue.

In recent years, China. Russia, Kazakstan. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have reached, within the framework of the Shanghai Five and through consultation and cooperation based on equality, an agreement among themselves on confidence-building in the military field and reduction of military forces in the border areas. This offers something useful for the international community to draw upon in its exploratory efforts for a new security concept.

We have noted with pleasure the positive changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the positive outcome of the successful historic summit between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. It has shown once again that dialogue and consultation based on equality serve to enhance mutual trust and improve relations between states. We appreciate the efforts made by both the DPRK and the ROK to promote peace, stability and development on the Peninsula and in the region. We deeply regret that the tripartite summit at Camp David failed to produce any agreement. We believe that the Middle East peace process will move forward, so long as the parties concerned earnestly, patiently and unswervingly engage themselves in negotiating and seriously implement the agreements that have already be reached among them on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, according to the principle of "Land for Peace" and in the spirit of mutual trust and mutual accommodation.

In the 20^th century, mankind has suffered enough from the scourges of war. In the 21^st century, humanitarian crises of a massive scale must be prevented and the tragedy of innocent people being slaughtered on a large scale must not be allowed to repeat itself. The UN shoulders a primary responsibility for the maintenance of world peace and, therefore, it should work harder to stop conflicts and eliminate wars. In the present‑day world, hegemonism and power politics still exist. Territorial disputes, ethnic feuds and religious rifts have all led to incessant regional conflicts. Some countries and regions hope that the UN will assist them in stopping conflicts, which we fully understand. At the same time, we must not fail to see the complexity of international intervention and the danger of inappropriate intervention. The UN intervention should aim at eliminating the root causes of a given conflict rather than delaying its settlement, facilitating reconciliation between the conflicting parties rather than aggravating their hatred and hostility. We are of the view that major powers and groups of countries should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned rather than meddling in their internal affairs or triggering new conflicts.

In the new circumstances, peacekeeping operations remain an important means for the UN to fulfill its obligations in safeguarding world peace and security. In this regard, it is essential to ensure and enhance the Security Council's responsibility and political leadership in peacekeeping operations and to ensure the observance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The UN peacekeeping operations should be launched in light of the actual conditions and within the capacities of the UN. The limited resources should be put to where they are most needed.

Mr. President,

Human beings are the most valuable among all creatures on earth. To promote human development and protect all the rights that human beings are entitled to are the common goal of mankind. China is the most populous country in the world. The Chinese Government has taken upon itself to safeguard the independence and dignity of the Chinese nation and ensure the almost 1.3 billion Chinese the right to a decent life and all‑round development. It has regarded this as its sacred duty and will exert all its efforts to this end.

Human rights improvement is an endless process. The human rights conditions of a country are up to the people of that country to assess and improve. All people live in a specific environment. The form in which human rights are embodied changes with time arid circumstances. Therefore, how to protect and promote human rights depends on the actual conditions and specific needs of a country. To arbitrarily impose a fixed set of human rights rules regardless of the differences in the specific environment and reality will not serve the interests of the people of any country. To interfere in other countries' internal affairs in the name of protecting human rights in order to advance one's own political agenda is simply a blasphemy and betrayal of the human rights cause.

The UN should vigorously encourage dialogues and exchanges among different civilizations and countries on human rights and discourage confrontation and exclusion, which represent the general trend of the human rights cause. In providing humanitarian assistance, the LTN should give equal priority to the prevention of conflicts and the protection of human rights on the one hand and the reduction and elimination of poverty and the promotion of human development on the other hand. In this context, the UN should work in close coordination and cooperation with the governments concerned, instead of bypassing them, and ensure human rights to the majority of the people. Otherwise, such operations would trigger a humanitarian disaster of a greater scale. Only when the above‑mentioned principles are abided by, can the UN play a useful role in protecting human rights.

Mr. President,

A few days ago, Chinese President Jiang Zemin proclaimed at this solemn podium to the whole world the Chinese people's firm determination to turn China into a strong, prosperous and united country with a high degree of democracy and to promote world peace and development. In the past 20 years and more since the inception of reform and opening‑up, China completed its first and second phases of modernization strategy. With the advent of the new century, China will begin the third phase of the strategy and enter a new stage of accelerated modernization. Once China becomes a member of the WTO, there will be major breakthroughs in its opening‑up. China will honor its commitments and seriously undertake its due obligations while enjoying its rights. Although there will be difficulties, risks and challenges on the way ahead, China is capable of removing every obstacle and achieving its grand objective of modernization. China will unswervingly stick to its independent foreign policy of peace and further develop friendly relations with the rest of the world on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. A strong and developed China will not only benefit more than a billion Chinese people but also serve prosperity and progress worldwide.

To resolve the question of Taiwan once and for all and complete the reunification of the motherland is a shared aspiration of the entire Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots. Adherence to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" in resolving the Taiwan question will serve the development of the two sides across the Straits, contribute to amity and unity among compatriots on both sides and facilitate peace and stability in the Asia‑Pacific region. The Chinese Government and people have committed themselves more strongly than anyone else to a peaceful reunification. They have demonstrated the utmost sincerity and made the greatest efforts to this end. We are convinced that with concerted efforts of the entire Chinese people including those living in Taiwan, China will be able to realize its complete reunification at an earlier date.

Mr. President,

We are entrusted with the important task of charting a course for mankind for the coming century. Let us join hands and work together to build a more secure, prosperous and progressive world in the new century.

Thank you.