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China's Position Paper on UN Reforms (full text)

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-06-08 11:35

China on Tuesday June 7, 2005 issued a position paper on the United
Nations' reforms. The following is the full text of the paper:

Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on the United Nations
Reforms

I. Development Issues
II. Security Issues
III. Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy
IV. Strengthening the UN

With the advent of a new century, international situation is undergoing
profound and complex changes. Peace and development remain the themes of
the times, but uncertain and unstable elements are on the rise. We are
faced with rare opportunities as well as grave challenges to realize
enduring peace and common development of human society.

Against the backdrop of in-depth development of globalization and
increasingly closer interdependence of states, global threats and
challenges have become more diverse and interconnected. All threats, new
or old, "soft" or "hard", direct or indirect, should be treated with
equal seriousness and emphasis without partiality. All countries should
make concerted efforts to deepen understanding through contacts, enhance
trust through dialogues, and promote cooperation through communications,
so as to cope with threats and challenges, especially to eliminate their
root causes, by collective action.

The United Nations plays an indispensable role in international affairs.
As the most universal, representative, authoritative inter-governmental
international organization, the UN is the best venue to practice
multilateralism, and an effective platform for collective actions to cope
with various threats and challenges. It should continue to be a messenger
for the maintenance of peace, and a forerunner for the promotion of
development. A reformed UN with a bigger role to play will serve the
common interests of humanity.

China welcomes the report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges
and Change, UN Millennium Project Report and the comprehensive report of
the UN Secretary-General, all of which put forward some useful and
feasible approaches and proposals for the rejuvenation and reform of the
UN. China is ready to work with all other parties to push for positive
results of UN reforms and success of the summit in September.

China maintains that UN reforms should observe the following principles:

�� Reforms should be in the interest of multilateralism, and enhance UN's
authority and efficiency, as well as its capacity to deal with new
threats and challenges.

�� Reforms should safeguard the purposes and principles enshrined in the
UN Charter, especially those of sovereign equality, non-interference in
internal affairs, peaceful resolution of conflicts and strengthening
international cooperation, etc.

�� Reforms should be all-dimensional and multi-sectoral, and aim to
succeed in both aspects of security and development. Especially, reforms
should aim at reversing the trend of "UN giving priority to security over
development" by increasing inputs in the field of development and
facilitating the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

�� Reforms shall accommodate the propositions and concerns of all UN
members, especially those of the developing countries. Reforms should be
based on democratic and thorough consultations and the most broadly-based
consensus.

�� Reforms should proceed gradually from tackling more manageable
problems to thornier ones and be carried out in a way that will maintain
and promote solidarity among members. For those proposals on which
consensus has been reached, decision may be made promptly for their
implementation; for important issues where division still exists,
prudence, continued consultations and consensus-building are called for.
It is undesirable to set a time limit or force a decision.

I. Development Issues

Development is the common pursuit of people from all countries and
bedrock for a collective security mechanism and the progress of human
civilization. Poverty, diseases, environmental degradation are also grave
challenges to the international community. Serious attention must be
given to the needs of developing countries, with a view to achieving
coordinated, balanced and universal development around the world.

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