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Ambassador Liu Jieyi Giving an Interview to Chinese Media on President Xi Jinping's Attendance at the UN Summits

2015-09-25 04:30
 

On 23 September 2015, Ambassador Liu Jieyi, Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, gave a joint interview in New York to the resident journalists from Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, China News Service, China Daily, Economic Daily at the United Nations.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also sees the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. At this monumental moment for the world to reflect on history and chart the way forward, President Xi Jinping will travel to the UN headquarters in New York from 26-28 September 2015 for a series of summits commemorating the anniversary, where he will expound on China’s positions, project China’s image and contribute China’s positive energy.

With the attendance of over 150 world leaders, the summits will constitute a grand diplomatic gathering of the largest scale, at the highest level and with the post far-reaching impact in recent years and a major event in the history of the UN. China is the founding member of the United Nations and more importantly, a staunch supporter for multilateralism and the causes of the organization. The first visit by President Xi Jinping to the UN headquarters is highly anticipated by the international community.

At the UN summits, President Xi will elaborate comprehensively and systematically on China’s major policies and positions on peace and development---the two main themes of our times. He will urge all countries in the world to continue safeguarding the international order and system with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations at the core. He will also call upon them to actively endeavor to foster a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation and work together to plan for a better future for the home we all share. His attendance at the meetings will represent China’s major contribution to the direction of the future development of the world and the UN and to the causes for human progress. It will also give a vivid demonstration of the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics that we pursue.

President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the UN summits will result in full success and write an important chapter in the transformation of the 21st century international paradigm and the history of China’s diplomacy.

Q: In what way will this year’s UNGA general debate be different from the previous ones given the fact that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UN? What policy positions will be put forward by President Xi Jinping at this high-level platform on behalf of the Chinese Government?

A: The general debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly will be opened on 28 September 2015 at the UN General Assembly Hall. The annual UNGA general debate is the highest forum of the UN. Every September, leaders from over 100 countries use this occasion to elaborate on their domestic and foreign policies as well as their countries’ positions on major issues and share their views on the direction of world development. Such interaction of views and positions has provided inexhaustible dynamism for the transformation of the international paradigm and the development of the UN.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the UN. It is an important juncture to build on past achievements and open up a better future. The entire UN membership looks forward to this opportunity to reflect on the past and embrace the future by learning from the lessons and experience over the past 7 decades, reaffirming the solemn commitment to the Charter, and enabling the UN to play a better role in preserving world peace, promoting common development and advancing international cooperation.

According to the latest UN statistics, 97 heads of state, 5 vice presidents, 44 heads of government, 5 vice prime ministers and 42 ministers will make statements at this year’s UNGA general debate. Such a high-level representation has been rarely seen in recent years.

China has always supported the UN in playing a bigger role in international affairs. Since the restoration of its lawful seat at the UN in 1971, China has taken an active part in all UN endeavors, played a responsible and constructive role and made important contributions as a major developing country.

At the UNGA general debate, President Xi will expound on China’s views on the current international situation and ways to build a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation. He will set forth China’s major contributions to the maintenance of world peace, promotion of common development, and greater support for the UN and multilateralism. He will also put forward China’s proposals for the international community to properly meet shared challenges together, play China’s role in achieving peace, development and prosperity for mankind. All this will have profound and far-reaching impact.

Q: What attracted great international attention in the area of international development this year was the negotiation on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Many members of our audience have shown huge great in it. The Permanent Mission of China to United Nations was in the forefront of that negotiation process. Could you brief us on what the Post-2015 Development Agenda is about and what “Chinese vision” President Xi will put forward at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda?

A: The UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda will be held from 25-27 September. The meeting will take stock of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and formally adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which will guide the international development cooperation for the next 15 years.

In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals was adopted by the UN. Over the past 15 years, China has incorporated its national effort to implement the MDGs into its broader effort to build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the overall national development strategy. Remarkable achievements have been made. China was the first country to have achieved the goal of halving the proportion of population living in poverty, thus making enormous contribution to global poverty reduction. China’s attainment of all the goals has provided a huge boost to global implementation of the MDGs.

The Post-2015 Development Agenda draws a comprehensive blueprint for world sustainable development for the next 15 years. It has identified 17 goals that contain 169 targets covering economic, social, environmental and many other areas. China made important contributions to the formulation of a fair, inclusive and sustainable post-2015 development agenda. The document clearly states that all countries shall commit themselves to win-win cooperation and common development, which embodies their important consensus on fostering a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation. It identifies the priority areas for international development cooperation, including infrastructure construction, connectivity, production capacity cooperation, development of sustainable cities. The document also reflects China’s important positions on the improvement of international economic governance, such as the maintenance of an open, fair, orderly and rule-based multilateral trading system, the promotion of trade liberalization and the increase of developing countries’ representation and say in this regard. More over, the document reiterates the commitment to the framework and principles of international development cooperation, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and support for all countries’ independent choice of development policies, models and paths suited to their national conditions.

President Xi will deliver an important speech at the Summit on the morning of 26 September, when he will give a comprehensive account of China’s views on global development and propose a type of development with fairness, openness, comprehensiveness and innovation as its core elements. He will review all the aspects of China’s achievements and experiences in development and express China’s firm resolve to implement the Post-2015 Development Agenda. It is hoped that the Summit will put the limelight on global development, build consensus, achieve practical results and foster a future-oriented global partnership so as to create a better international environment for the development of developing countries and the common prosperity of all.

Q: As the biggest developing country, China has been playing an important role in promoting South-South cooperation. How significant is it for China to co-host the High-level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation during the UNGA high-level week and what are China’s expectations for the meeting?

A: China will co-host the High-level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation with the UN on the margins of the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. President Xi will chair the meeting and make an important statement and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will also deliver his remarks. Together with the leaders of participating countries and international organizations, President Xi will work to promote South-South cooperation, reinforce solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, enhance exchange on development ideas and experiences and make fresh contribution to the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The theme of the Roundtable is “Strengthening South-South Cooperation in the Framework of the Post-2015 Development Agenda”. The discussion will focus on the following topics: 1) Review South-South cooperation, exchange experiences and best practices; 2) Discuss ways to scale up South-South cooperation in implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, while urging developed countries to meet their development cooperation commitments to developing countries, the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States in particular; and 3) Encourage the United Nations system to provide greater support for South-South cooperation.

Under the framework of South-South cooperation, China has provided support and help to the best of its ability to over 120 developing countries for their efforts to attain the MDGs. At the Roundtable, President Xi will highlight the guiding principles and past experiences for South-South cooperation, put forward recommendations for the deepening and expansion of such cooperation in the new era and announce important steps for China to support international development cooperation and advance South-South Cooperation. The Roundtable will provide the leaders with a significant opportunity to reach major consensus on strengthening South-South cooperation, and generate a strong boost to the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

QWe have learned that President Xi has accepted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s invitation to attend the leaders’ working lunch on climate change. China’s role in the global effort to meet climate change challenge has always been the focus of attention. Could you brief us on the working luncheon and what are China’s positions and measures on climate change?

A: Yes, President Xi will attend the leaders’ working lunch on climate change at the invitation of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. His attendance shows China’s firm resolve and proactive attitude in addressing climate change. At the meeting, President Xi will have an in-depth discussion with all other leaders on ways to deal with climate change and achieve sustainable development. He will urge all leaders to jointly demonstrate political will and provide political driving force for the climate change conference in Paris.

The Chinese Government takes climate change seriously. To address this issue is not only inherently required by the need of achieving sustainable development in China, but also part of our commitment to getting deeply involved in global governance, fostering a community of shared destiny for all, and promoting the common development of mankind. China has participated, in a comprehensive and in-depth manner, in the 2015 climate change negotiations. We stand ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with all other parties to enable the COP21 later this year to reach a new agreement on climate change as scheduled and put in place a global climate governance structure that is fair and equitable, and centered on win-win cooperation. On 30 June this year, the Chinese Government submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC secretariat, which contains targets for China’s actions in mitigation, adaptation, peaking and other areas as well as China’s policy measures and implementation avenues to reach these targets. China’s INDCs speaks volumes of China’s responsible attitude and tremendous efforts on climate change. It has injected fresh driving force and made new contribution for a climate agreement to be reached at the Paris conference and has thus been hailed by the international community.

Q: China and UN Women will co-host a global women’s summit on 27 September. What did China want to co-host this meeting? What is your comment on the historical significance of this meeting?

A: In 1995, China successfully hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Representatives of 189 governments formulated and adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, solemnly pledging to help all women and girls realize their equal rights and protect them from poverty, discrimination, inequality and violence. For two decades, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has been held by the international community as the benchmarks and guideline for the global causes for women development.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Conference. It is also the year when the UN is set to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda. There is a need for the international community to comprehensively review the development of women over the past decades, reflect on the experiences and lessons learned and draw the blueprint for the global cause for women for the next decade or two based on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment will serve as a new milestone for women’s development worldwide and provide fresh boost for the full realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment, thus bringing benefit to women across the world, including the 650 million in China.

Q: What would be highlights of this meeting?

A: The Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment will be the first summit China co-hosts at the UN in the domain of social development. It has aroused extensive international attention.

There are three things about the meeting that makes it special.

First, high-level attendance. President Xi Jinping, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the heads of state of the hosting countries of the previous three world conferences on women, Mexico, Denmark and Nigeria, will attend and address the summit. As of today, over 80 heads of state and government have confirmed that they will attend and make statements. The level of participants is higher than all four world conferences on women.

Second, mixed composition of participants. The main purpose of the leaders’ meeting is to urge all heads of state and government to commit to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Apart from world leaders, eminent persons including Mrs. Gertude Mongella, Secretary-General of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Mrs. Melinda Gates as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations, the private sector and media will also attend the meeting at our invitation. This fully shows the openness and inclusiveness of the summit, which is in line with the Beijing 1995 spirit.

Third, important message to be sent by the Chinese president. President Xi will elaborate on China’s positions on global women’s development from the new historical starting point and China’s efforts for women’s causes. He will announce China’s new initiatives for international assistance.

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