——by H.E. Ambassador Li Ming

On 25th October, 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority to restore all rights of the People's Republic of China in the UN and to recognize the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN. 

On 25th October, 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Lawful Seat of the People's Republic of China in the UN. President Xi reviewed the extraordinary and glorious journey that China and the UN have traversed together, advocated the common values of humanity and called on jointly promoting a community with a shared future for mankind.

The past five decades since China restored its lawful seat in the UN have witnessed China's rapid economic and social development. Over the past 50 years, China's national GDP has grown from around 100 billion US dollars in 1971 to around15 trillion US dollars in 2020, and contributed 30% of global economic growth. China has become the world's second largest economy, attained the goal of fully building a moderately prosperous society on the vast land of China, and secured a historic success in eradicating absolute poverty of 800 million population. China has now embarked on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country.

The past five decades since China restored its lawful seat in the UN have witnessed solidarity and cooperation between China and the world to uphold international equity and justice. China has unswervingly adhered to the independent foreign policy of peace, upheld the authority of the UN and promoted multilateralism through action. China resolutely opposes hegemony and power politics, actively promotes a community with a shared future for mankind. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has been widely supported by the international community. So far, 140 countries and 32 international organizations have signed Belt and Road Initiative cooperation documents. China has faithfully fulfilled its responsibility and mission as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to worldwide UN peacekeeping operations, and is now the second largest financial contributor to both the UN and UN peacekeeping operations.

The past five decades since China restored its lawful seat in the UN have witnessed China’s path of peaceful development. Under the leadership of Communist Party of China, Chinese people have found the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and created two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. China offers a new option of development for other developing countries who want to accelerate their development while preserving their independence; and it offers Chinese wisdom and Chinese way to solving the problems faced by mankind.

On September 2019, based on the One-China Principle and UNGA Resolution 2758, Solomon Islands Government led by the Hon. Prime Minister Sogavare stood on the right side of history and established diplomatic relationship with China, becoming the 179th country in the world of doing so. During the past two years, in the spirit of treating each other with respect and as equals, China and Solomon Islands have been working closely to promote practical cooperation in a wide range of areas. Chinese technical engineers overcame the challenges of pandemic and arrived in Honiara for the 2023 Pacific Games Stadium. China provided vaccines, testing kits and personal protective equipment as well as funding support to Solomon Islands, which effectively enhancing the Solomon Islands’ capabilities in preventing and controlling the pandemic and keeping COVID-Free status. China and Solomon Islands signed an agreement to grant zero tariff treatment to products under 97 percent of taxable items exported by Solomon Islands to China. China-Solomon Islands practical cooperation in other areas have also been enriched.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, of all the political parties, countries, and peoples in the world today, the CPC, the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese people have every reason to be full of confidence. The confidence of CPC originates from the achievements in China’s development as well as support from the 1.4 billion Chinese people. According to the survey by Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the CPC enjoys 93.1% support and satisfaction among the Chinese people. This indeed says a lot that the path and system adopted by Chinese people is absolutely right. The 1.4 billion Chinese people enjoy full democracy, freedom and human rights. Readers may note there are always a few politicians spreading lies and slanders on CPC, hype up “China threat” and anti-communism sentiments. It can only exposes their outdated Cold War mindset, ideological prejudice and personal political purposes. Lies repeated one thousand times are still lies. The truth is: China-SI relations will not only benefit each other and achieve win-win cooperation, but also bring multi-win cooperation for the pacific region.

In retrospect of the past five decades, China has contributed hugely to the UN and helped the world we live in become more democratic, fair and diversified. The representation of developing countries in the UN has been enhanced remarkably and unprecedented. Standing at the new threshold, China will further strengthen cooperation with Solomon Islands to bring about more benefits to our peoples and the Pacific Islands region as a whole.