People's Republic of China, 1993

At the outset I should like warmly to congratulate

you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the current

session of the General Assembly. I am convinced that given

your proven talent and extensive experience, and with the

cooperation of all delegations, you will steer our session to

full success. I also wish to express my sincere thanks to

your predecessor, Mr. Stoyan Ganev, for his remarkable

accomplishments during the last session. I would like to

take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome and

congratulations to the new Members which have been

admitted to the United Nations this year.

The world has moved into a transitional period towards

multipolarity since the disintegration of the bipolar structure.

It had been hoped that the end of the cold war would bring

peace and prosperity to the world. Indeed, the prospects of

avoiding another world war and ensuring a lasting peace

have improved. However, contradictions that had lain

dormant during the cold war have begun to emerge, and

manifestations of hegemonism and power politics in

international relations are on the rise. Peace and development, so ardently aspired to by mankind, still face grave

challenges.

The relative stability Europe once enjoyed has been

upset. Many countries are plagued by severe economic

slumps or by political upheaval. Some regions are torn by

ethnic or religious feuds exacerbated by territorial disputes,

leading to intermittent conflicts and armed clashes. A

regional war is raging at the southern end of the Eurasian

land mass. All this can only have a negative impact on

Europe and on the world at large.

In the meantime, a number of developed countries have

developed a "post-cold-war syndrome". Some have sunk

into the longest recession since the Second World War. In

the new setting, internal contradictions have sharpened,

political scandals are rife, racism has reared its ugly head,

trade protectionism is on the rise, and xenophobic violence

is spreading. Public disaffection has been manifest, and the

entrenched political establishment has been shaken. This

trend has adversely affected the stability of the countries

concerned and complicated international relations.

The new international environment has led to an even

more dire plight for many developing countries. Increasing

foreign intervention has heightened various internal factors

of instability, thus compounding their difficulties. Their

rights to independence, subsistence and development have

been neither duly respected nor safeguarded. Therefore,

interference from the outside should cease, and the

international community should give top priority to helping

those countries achieve political stability and overcome

economic difficulties. Lasting world peace and stability will

remain elusive if the developing countries are still beset by

persistent political unrest and if the North-South gap

continues to widen.

There is no denying the fact that peace and

development remain the overriding issues of our time. To

preserve peace and accelerate development has become the

pressing demand of the people of all countries, but especially

of those in the developing countries.

The world we live in is as diversified as ever. There

are now more than 180 independent sovereign States, which

differ not only in social systems but also in stages of

development. Moreover, they have widely diverse

ideologies, cultural traditions, ethnic identities and religious

faiths. We should recognize and respect those differences

and diversities, and treat each other as equal members of the

international community. We should promote interchanges

in the spirit of seeking common ground while setting aside

differences. We should oppose any attempt to impose a

particular model on large numbers of countries, as diverse as

they are.

We believe that there can be genuine peace,

international harmony and common development among

States only when international relations strictly conform to

the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter

and are based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

and other accepted norms of international conduct.

Increased economic and cultural interchanges between States

have deepened their interdependence. It is absolutely

necessary that States open up to each other; enhance

exchanges, mutual understanding and cooperation; and share

the benefit of complementarity. But all this will be possible

only on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual

benefit.

In order to attain the overall objective of peace and

development, the Chinese Government has on many

occasions called for the establishment of a new international

political and economic order of peace, stability, justice and

rationality based on the Five Principles of Peaceful

Forty-eighth session - 29 September l993 19

Coexistence and on the recognition of the diversity of the

world and of the differences among States. Under the new

order, mutual respect and cooperation between States on an

equal footing will replace hegemonism and power politics;

peace talks, dialogue and consultations will replace the use

or threat of force; and equality, mutual benefit and

accommodation of each other’s needs will replace trade

protectionism and unequal exchanges. The Chinese

Government is ready to cooperate extensively with all other

countries and will continue to make unremitting efforts for

the establishment of such a new order, and for peace and

development of the world.

The report "An Agenda for Peace" (A/47/277)

submitted by the Secretary-General contains many important,

thought-provokinq recommendations and ideas that deserve

careful consideration. We commend the Secretary-General

for his efforts therein. As a permanent member of the

Security Council, China has always supported the positive

endeavours of the United Nations in preserving world peace

and stability, promoting global development and resolving

international disputes. We support the further enhancement

and strengthening of the United Nations constructive role in

preventive diplomacy, in peacemaking and peace-keeping on

the basis of the purposes and principles of the Charter.

As the frequency and scope of United Nations

peace-keeping operations is growing, we deem it important

and relevant to stress such basic principles of the Charter as

respect for the sovereignty of, and non-interference in, the

internal affairs of Member States. Those principles must be

strictly observed at all times when undertaking preventive

diplomacy, peace-keeping operations or post-conflict

peace-building. Prior consent and pledges of cooperation by

the parties must be obtained, and strict impartiality should

prevail in all peace-keeping missions. Only in this way can

United Nations preventive diplomacy and peace-keeping

operations fulfil the underlying purposes of the Charter and

achieve the desired positive result.

The peaceful settlement of international disputes is an

important principle of the Charter, one which we deem to be

the essence of preventive diplomacy. Everything should be

done to bring the opposing parties to the negotiating table

before the outbreak of conflicts, so that they can start

consultations to achieve a peaceful settlement. All disputes

between States, regional conflicts or even internal conflicts,

however complex they may be, should be amenable to a

political solution, and nothing should be done to aggravate

the situation.

Not long ago, the Palestine Liberation Organization and

the Government of Israel signed an agreement on mutual

recognition and on the question of self-government for

Palestinians. Although just a beginning, the move was a

major breakthrough in the settlement of the Middle East

question, which has dragged on for nearly half a century.

This agreement was the result of efforts by the international

community and by both Palestine and Israel to settle an

international dispute by peaceful means. We sincerely

welcome and wish to express our congratulations at this

development. We can see from this that as long as a

glimmer of hope remains, one must not give up the pursuit

of a peaceful settlement.

Needless to say, one should adopt a very serious

attitude towards, and firmly oppose, any act of aggression

that tramples on the sovereignty of another country, such as

larger States bullying smaller ones or the strong lording it

over the weak in the international arena. We disapprove of

the indiscriminate use of sanctions or force in the name of

the United Nations. We also believe that humanitarian

missions must not be transformed into military operations

and that a war cannot be stopped by

expanding it.

It must be noted that in a world troubled by recurrent

regional conflicts and interwoven contradictions, the United

Nations alone cannot hope to resolve all international

disputes. It has the duty to undertake this task and

maintain international peace and security. But regional

organizations should also be taken into account and

encouraged, as provided in Chapter VIII of the Charter, to

assume greater responsibility and play a more active role in

this regard. In view of the proliferation of United Nations

peace-keeping operations and the concomitant demands on

the Organization and Member States in terms of manpower,

finance and material resources, we deem it essential that the

United Nations act within the limits of its means and

enhance the cost-effectiveness of such operations.

Peace and development are inseparable. Economic

development cannot get off the ground without the

prerequisites of peace and stability. On the other hand,

unless there is sound economic development, there can

hardly be secure or enduring peace and stability. We

maintain that the United Nations should meet the demands

of the developing countries for social and economic

advancement and should give this very high priority. This

is the way to make the United Nations an Organization that

all the countries of the world will support and count on.

This is also the way to enhance further the role and prestige

of the United Nations. Proceeding from this consideration,

20 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

we in China have stepped up preparations for the fourth

World Conference on Women in Beijing, scheduled for

1995. We also give vigorous support to the convening of

the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen

the same year.

It must be pointed out that unless the international

community helps the developing countries break loose

quickly from poverty and backwardness, there can be no

sustained growth or prosperity for all. Hence, we call upon

the developed countries to do more to curb trade

protectionism, contribute more funds for development and

environmental protection, cut back debt burden, increase

official development assistance, reduce restrictions on

technology transfer and open their markets wider so as to

create a favourable environment for the economic recovery

and revitalization of the developing countries. This will

prove a boon to the developed countries themselves. At a

time when the world economy has become increasingly

interrelated, the revitalization of the developing countries

will be a boost to the world and will spur to the economic

recovery and growth of the developed countries.

Since the founding of the United Nations, tremendous

changes have taken place in the world and in the

Organization itself. United Nations membership has

increased from the original 51 to 184 now, the majority

being developing countries. The Chinese Government is of

the view that, in keeping with developments, the United

Nations should be restructured, and the composition of the

Security Council could be appropriately enlarged to enable

the Organization better to respond to the changes in the

world, meet the concerns and wishes of the membership and

enhance its own role in international affairs. Reform of the

Security Council should enable it better to discharge its

mandate in accordance with the purposes and principles of

the Charter. It is the collective will and common aspiration

of the membership that in the new circumstances the United

Nations should be better equipped to address major

international issues vigorously and effectively and in a fair

and balanced manner. Therefore, the reform of the Security

Council and other United Nations organs should take due

account of the principle of equitable geographical

distribution and should accommodate the interests of the

developing countries which make up the overwhelming

majority of the membership. Since any reform would affect

the interests of all Member States and involve a revision of

the Charter, views from all quarters must be heard. The

reform plan should undergo extensive discussions and

consultations by the membership and should be generally

acceptable to all.

The Chinese Government has stated on many occasions

that China stands for the non-proliferation of all weapons of

mass destruction. At the same time we hold that the

ultimate objective of mankind should be the complete

prohibition and thorough destruction of those weapons. Now

that the Conventions banning biological and chemical

weapons have been concluded, we deem it high time that the

complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear

weapons were put on the agenda.

The international community has expressed concern

over the issue of a nuclear-test ban. The Chinese

Government has always stood for a total test ban within the

framework of the complete prohibition and thorough

destruction of nuclear weapons. We support an early start

to negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty

and will work in common with other countries towards a

comprehensive nuclear-test ban at an early date.

China has always exercised great restraint in nuclear

testing. The number of our tests is the smallest among all

nuclear Powers. While a nuclear test ban is necessary, to

undertake not to use nuclear weapons at all is far more

crucial, because this will not only make their testing,

development, production or deployment devoid of any

meaning, but will give great impetus to nuclear disarmament,

which will contribute tremendously to world peace and

security. If, however, complete prohibition and thorough

destruction of nuclear weapons cannot be achieved soon

enough, then let the nuclear Powers reach an agreement not

to be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use them

against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-free zones.

This is entirely feasible and should be done as soon as

possible. This will put nuclear Powers to the test to see

whether they are genuinely willing to treat non-nuclearweapon States as equals. China long ago unilaterally undertook not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time

or under any circumstances, and not to use or threaten to use

them against any nuclear-free zone or non-nuclear-weapon

State. We call upon all the other nuclear Powers to make

the same pledge and conclude an international convention to

this effect as soon as possible.

Now there are international arrangements and

conventions that are designed to control arms transfers and

ban certain types of weapons of mass destruction. Such

conventions are aimed at maintaining international and

regional peace, security and stability. The arrangements

designed to control transfers of missile technology should

also take into account such elements as the arbitrary use of

missiles for attacks on other countries. Otherwise, such an

arrangement will become a means by which certain Powers

Forty-eighth session - 29 September l993 21

can maintain military superiority or play power politics. That

is morally unjustifiable. We oppose the all-too-frequent

arbitrary use of sanctions by one country to bring pressure

to bear on another under the pretext of controlling arms

transfers while engaging in massive arms sales of one’s own

which jeopardize the sovereignty and security of the country

concerned. We also denounce the hegemonic conduct of a

self-styled "world cop" that tramples upon international law

and norms of international relations by endangering another

country’s navigational safety and normal trading under the

pretext of enforcing the ban on chemical weapons and in

disregard of the provisions of the relevant international

conventions.

Thanks to the policy of reform and opening to the

world, China’s economy has expanded considerably over the

past 15 years and is now in high gear. Our gross national

product rose 12.8 per cent last year, and the current year’s

growth rate will again be in double digits. Our foreign trade

and economic cooperation have been expanding rapidly.

Total trade volume in 1992 was a 5.2-fold increase over

1978, the year before the start of the reform and opening-up,

and represents an annual growth rate of 13.9 per cent.

Investments from overseas have flowed in rapidly. Nearly

50,000 overseas-funded projects involving $58 billion were

approved in 1992. The momentum has continued into the

current year. High-speed growth has helped basically solve

the problem of feeding and clothing a population of over 1.1

billion and put China on the road towards prosperity. It has

also boosted economic exchanges and cooperation with other

countries. This is good for both China and the world.

But we have encountered some problems as our

economy has picked up speed. These problems will be

resolved by accelerating and deepening our reform. We

have taken a number of measures to strengthen

macro-control and readjust the economic structure to ensure

healthy, rapid and steady economic growth. We are fully

capable of attaining our objective. We are full of confidence

in the future of our development programme.

It is an objective reality that China has indeed achieved

impressive economic success. But it does not tally with the

facts to exaggerate our economic strength. Given China’s

vast land area, huge population and uneven economic

development in different parts of the country, our per capita

gross national product is still quite low. Ours is still a

developing country. It will require several generations

working very hard for many decades before we can attain

the level of an average developed country.

At this juncture, I would like to draw attention to

assertions recently bruited about on the international scene:

that China’s economic success would entail a military

build-up, or that China would move to "fill up the vacuum",

thus constituting a threat, and so on and so forth. This is

utterly groundless. A China with a burgeoning economy is

an important factor contributing to the economic well-being

of Asia and the world at large. The Chinese people had

long suffered under imperialist aggression, and it regained

independence only after horrible sacrifices in countless grim

struggles spanning more than a century. Nothing can make

us forget the episodes of our history when our country was

subjected to foreign aggression, dismemberment and

enslavement. Our ancient sage Confucius, that great thinker

and statesman, admonished: "Do not do unto others what

you would not like others to do unto you".

Even when China becomes more developed, we will

never engage in aggression or expansionism; nor will we

ever seek hegemony. This is a pledge which has been

enshrined in our Constitution and which has become part of

our consistent and firm basic State policy. It has been borne

out by facts that China is a staunch force for world peace

and stability. Our limited defence capability is solely for

self-defence purposes. Many of our military industrial plants

have been converted to civilian production. Our military

expenditures are the lowest among the major countries. We

have neither troops nor military bases on foreign territory.

We are immersed in economic construction. Therefore, we

need an international environment of enduring peace as well

as long-term amicable relations with our neighbours. We are

ready to cultivate and strengthen similar relationships with

all other countries on the basis of the five principles of

peaceful coexistence.

No matter how the wind may change its direction on

the world scene, China will unswervingly play its part in

preserving world peace and promoting common prosperity

and development.