Work Together for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation* 

June 19, 2013 and May 19, 2014 

I 

As well as its many important missions, the United Nations (UN) carries the expectations of the peoples of all countries. The world is undergoing dramatic and complex changes, and it requires the joint efforts of all UN member states to address global issues and challenges. The UN should grasp the theme of peace and development, uphold fairness and justice, and speak and act justly. The time of the zero-sum mentality is past, so we should work together for mutually beneficial cooperation instead. The UN should contribute to this. 

China has set forth the Two Centenary Goals as a grand blueprint for its future development. China needs the UN and the UN needs China. China values the UN and will support it. 

China's permanent membership of the UN Security Council entails not only power but also responsibility that it is ready to shoulder. China will continue to work for the peaceful resolution of international disputes and support the UN in achieving its Millennium Development Goals. China is willing to work with all parties in addressing climate change and other problems, and to do whatever it can for world peace and human progress. 

(June 19, 2013) 

II 

The year 2015 will mark the 70th anniversary of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War (1941-1945) and the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression¹ (1937-1945). It will also mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UN. The world community should avail itself of this important opportunity to reiterate its commitment to multilateralism, safeguard the principles set forth in the UN Charter and commit itself to strengthening the role of the UN. 

The world community should make concerted efforts to promote world peace and development. 

First, seeking political solutions is the right path to address the seemingly endless sequence of international flashpoints. "Just when you press the gourd into the water, there floats the gourd ladle."² These issues must be tackled properly and reasonably. Exerting pressure won't work, and external military intervention will make things worse. Both the UN and the rest of the international community should adhere to political solutions to all conflicts. 

Second, the world community should adhere to the goal of common development. The UN should play its political and coordinating role, and exploit its moral advantage. It should formulate its post-2015 Development Agenda with poverty alleviation at its core to achieve sustainable growth. China wishes every success for the UN Climate Summit in September. 

Third, the UN should play a leading role in international affairs. Regarding the fight against terrorism, the UN should play a bigger role by promoting clear-cut criteria of right and wrong so as to advance the fight against terrorism of all forms. It should also serve as the main channel in protecting cyber security, advocate rules, sovereignty and transparency in this regard, respect the concerns of different countries over information safety, and achieve common management. China will continue to firmly support the UN. 

(May 19, 2014) 

* Main points of talks with Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the UN.

Notes 

¹  The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression refers to a war against Japan's imperialist invasion that lasted from the September 18th Incident in 1931 until September 1945. Through the advocacy of the Communist Party of China, the war was waged under the banner of the Chinese united front against Japanese aggression, and involved KMT-CPC cooperation. It was an important battlefield during World War II and one of the major theaters in the East. The war was the first complete victory achieved by the Chinese people against foreign aggression since the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century. It also made a significant contribution to overall victory in World War II (known in China as the World Anti-Fascist War). 

²  A traditional Chinese saying that means "tackling one problem only to find another emerging." – Tr.

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