On August 2, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, gave an interview at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to Chinese and foreign media, including The Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, RIA Novosti, Kyodo News and Xinhua News Agency. He elaborated on China's positions on cooperation with the United Nations, developing-country status, the Belt and Road Initiative, China-US trade frictions and Hong Kong, and answered questions from the journalists.

Ambassador Zhang said that China attaches great importance to the role of the United Nations, and China-UN cooperation has maintained good momentum. President Xi Jinping and Secretary-General António Guterres had meetings both in Beijing and Osaka. The world today faces severe challenges brought by unilateralism and protectionism. Uncertainty and instability are increasing, and the United Nations faces greater difficulties. China will continue to firmly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations as its center, and maintain an international order based on international law. This is in the common interests and represents the common expectation of the international community. China will actively support the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs.

As a Permanent Member of the Security Council, China will continue to play a responsible and constructive role. The world is far from being peaceful. Regional hot issues are cropping up. China will be actively engaged in finding solutions to hot issues and promoting peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, consultation and political means, and contribute more to international peace and security.

As the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the Security Council, China will continue to actively participate in UN peacekeeping operations and make its contribution. Currently, more than 2,500 Chinese peacekeepers are deployed in seven mission areas. China will continue to help other countries, especially developing countries and African countries, strengthen their capacity building.

As the second largest financial contributor to the United Nations, China will earnestly fulfill its obligations, actively participate in UN management, support the reform of the UN system, improve operational efficiency, and better serve the UN membership.

China will promote international cooperation to address global challenges in a cooperative and constructive manner. China will actively promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and hopes that the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September will achieve fruitful results. China will work for stronger international anti-terrorism cooperation and resolutely combat all forms of terrorism and extremism. China will promote a bigger role of the UN in cybersecurity. China will also take an active part in international cooperation on non-proliferation and arms control.

China will actively promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Next year marks the fifth year of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Next year is also the year of the completion of building a moderately prosperous society of China. By then, all rural poor under the current standard in China will be lifted out of poverty. This will be a huge contribution to the implementation of the 2030 goals. It also shows that China's development path and development model are correct. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the United Nations in poverty reduction and inject new impetus into global development.

China will continue to work closely with the United Nations under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative, in nature, is an economic initiative. It is conducive to achieving common development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by enhancing connectivity and improving global value chains, industrial chains and supply chains. In April this year, the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing. It emphasized sustainable development, green development concepts and international standards, and opened a new phase of high-quality development. The forum was widely welcomed by the international community. China looks forward to closer cooperation with various UN agencies in building the Belt and Road.

China firmly safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. Development is one of the greatest challenges in the world today. The vast majority of the UN member states are developing countries. Most of the world's population live in developing countries. The right to development is also one of the most important human rights. The level of development of a country must be viewed objectively and comprehensively. For China, after 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic, especially after more than 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has made tremendous progress, but still faces many challenges. Its development is unbalanced and insufficient, and it is 100% a developing country. China firmly opposes any attempt to redefine the status of developing countries and will never allow creating obstacles to developing countries or depriving them of their right to development. In fact, in today's global governance system, it is the developed countries that are still in a dominant position and enjoying special and differential treatment. The most urgent task is to promote reform of the global economic governance system and give developing countries more say and development space.

Ambassador Zhang said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The relationship between China and the United Nations stands at a new starting point. China will take this as an opportunity to continuously deepen cooperation with the United Nations and participate in UN affairs, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, actively promote international cooperation, and make new contributions to safeguarding international peace, promoting common development and building a community of a shared future for mankind.

On China-US cooperation in the United Nations, Ambassador Zhang said that China and the United States are both permanent members of the Security Council and major economies in the world, and relations between the two are extremely important. China and the United States have broad common interests in international affairs, and closer China-US cooperation is in the common interest of both sides and is the expectation of the international community. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the United States and contribute to world peace and common development. At the same time, cooperation must be based on mutual respect, mutual equality and mutual trust, and China will never sacrifice, but firmly uphold its own fundamental interests.

On the US decision to impose 10% tariff on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods on 1 September, Ambassador Zhang said that China and the United States are economically and commercially interdependent. The US decision, which is irrational and irresponsible, hurts the interests of China and the world, and is not in the long-term interests of the United States. It further deviates from the right track, and American consumers are paying more. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition and will take all necessary countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. Practices of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying hurt the world and other countries, and will not solve the problems of the United States. China urges the United States to return to the right track.

Ambassador Zhang said that China's position on China-US trade issues is clear. If the United States wishes to talk, China will talk; If the United States wants to fight, China will fight. China will not make concessions on issues concerning its fundamental interests. China is not fighting for itself alone, but fighting for an open, transparent, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. If major players do not behave like that, how can they expect others to do it?

On Hong Kong, Ambassador Zhang said that China opposes and will never allow any country to interfere in China's internal affairs, especially on issues relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan. It must be emphasized that what has happened in Hong Kong goes far beyond peaceful demonstrations. It is turning out to be chaotic and violent and having a serious impact on the rule of law, order, economy, and image of Hong Kong. "One Country, Two Systems" must not be abused. "One Country" is the basis of "Two Systems". "Two Systems" must not undermine China's sovereignty, territorial integrity or the authority of the Central Government. We strongly condemn any act of violence. The Central Government of China firmly supports the government of Hong Kong SAR in taking effective measures to combat violence and restore social stability.

On the Korean nuclear issue, Ambassador Zhang said that the parties follow closely the latest launch by the DPRK. The nature of the object is yet to be identified. China believes that the progress made on this issue should be cherished. Dialogue is the only way to solve the problem. Positive actions by the DPRK should be encouraged. Consideration should be given to taking actions, at an appropriate time, to ease Security Council sanctions according to relevant resolutions. China has been implementing Security Council resolutions in an earnest and responsible manner.

On whether the trade war between the United States and China would affect the talks on North Korea, Ambassador Zhang said that he is in no position to make any predictions. At the same time, if one wants to cooperate, he should demonstrate the spirit of cooperation to his partner. It would be hard to imagine that on the one hand, you are seeking cooperation from your partner and, on the other hand, you are hurting the interest of your partner.

On the US withdrawal from the INF, Ambassador Zhang said that China's position is very clear. First, the INF is a bilateral treaty between Russia and the United States. China regrets to see and opposes the US withdrawal from this legally-binding agreement. Second, making China an excuse for the withdrawal by the United States is not acceptable. Everybody knows that China is not at the same level with the United States and Russia, which are the two largest nuclear weapon possessors in the world. Therefore, China should not be put together with the two. Third, China adopts a defensive policy. It is actively engaged in international efforts of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and will continue to be a responsible and constructive player in this area.