People's Republic of China, 1996

Please allow me first of all to offer my sincere

congratulations to Ambassador Razali Ismail on his election

to the presidency of the General Assembly at its current

session. I am convinced that with his outstanding ability

and rich experience he will fulfil this lofty mission with

distinction. I would also like to express my thanks to

Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral for the important contribution

he made during his presidency of the last session.

The 1990s are a period of momentous transition,

during which international relations are undergoing the most

far-reaching changes since the Second World War. The

collapse and disappearance of the bipolar structure has

rekindled hope that the world will become a community of

countries with equal rights for all, rather than one

dominated by a single big Power. Multipolarity is gaining

momentum in a global as well as a regional context. Major

Powers are readjusting their relationships. On the other

hand, the multitude of developing countries have become

increasingly aware of the need to bolster their strength

through concerted efforts. The Non-Aligned Movement

continues to uphold the ideals and principles of

independence, independent decision-making and

non-affiliation with blocs, and is vigorously pushing for

a new just and democratic international order of peace

and equality. Regional economic organizations, which are

displaying great vitality, are expanding their role in

promoting regional cooperation and development in their

respective areas.

Asia’s upsurge is having a significant impact on the

world’s political and economic configurations. The world

is deeply impressed with the vigorous economic

development of Asia, East Asia in particular. The

convening of the first Asia-Europe meeting highlighted

the changes now being seen and marked an important

new beginning for an equal, cooperative relationship

between Asia and Europe. As the world moves towards

multipolarity, the forces for peace are bolstered. The call

for dialogue and cooperation, as against confrontation and

conflict, has become louder.

In the Asia-Pacific region, efforts to maintain peace

and stability and promote common development through

dialogue, consultation and cooperation have yielded

positive results. An agreement on confidence-building in

the military field along border areas has been concluded

between China on the one hand, and the Russian

Federation, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the

other; this agreement governs a boundary over 3,000

kilometres in length. The Association of South-East Asian

Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum has succeeded in

bringing Asia-Pacific countries together to consider

security issues facing the region. The Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation Council (APEC) has become a

useful mechanism for promoting trade and investment

liberalization as well as economic and technological

cooperation in the region.

The past year has seen peace returning to a number

of war-torn countries and regions. We are pleased to note

that the peace accord reached between the belligerents in

Bosnia and Herzegovina is being implemented, and that

Yugoslavia and Croatia have normalized their relations.

It is hoped that peace will soon be fully restored to the

region of the former Yugoslavia in order to put an end to

the prolonged conflict in that part of Europe.

The impact on Africa of the drastic changes in the

post-cold war international situation is waning. Africa is

entering a new historical era in which it is striving for

peace, stability and development. Many burning issues in

Africa have already been or are in the process of being

settled gradually. At the same time, however, some

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countries and regions are still plagued by the scourge of

war. We hope that the international community will

continue to give attention and attach importance to African

issues so as to help bring lasting peace and development to

the whole African continent at an early date.

But the path towards peace is tortuous. After some

major gains in preceding years, the Middle East peace

process has hit snags again. China is concerned at this

development. We hope that all the parties concerned will

strive for an early comprehensive and just settlement of this

issue by strictly observing the agreements already reached

and resuming negotiations and dialogue on the basis of the

relevant United Nations resolutions.

Peace should have prevailed in the post-cold-war

world, in which equal members of the international

community should respect each other’s sovereignty and

territorial integrity, refrain from invading each other or

interfering in each other’s internal affairs, and live in

harmony with each other, in a spirit of seeking common

ground and putting aside differences. However, the reality

is that the world today is far from tranquil because the

cold-war mentality dies hard and hegemonism has

repeatedly raised its ugly head. Interference in other

countries’ internal affairs under various pretexts, and

indulgence in sanctions-wielding or even the use of force

are trampling on the purposes and principles of the Charter

of the United Nations and all accepted norms of

international relations, thereby threatening and undermining

world peace and stability. Recent controversies in

international forums, generated by the issue of sanctions,

signify that in the context of a growing trend towards

multipolarity, hegemonism and power politics will become

increasingly untenable.

The vigorous expansion of international trade and

investment and the rapid advance of science and technology

have led to closer economic ties between countries and

regions, thus accelerating the process of economic

globalization. This presents a rare opportunity to both

developed and developing countries. By riding the tide of

globalization and relying on their own unremitting efforts,

some developing countries have achieved sustained and

rapid economic growth, thereby giving a great impetus to

world economic growth. These and other changes on the

world scene have widened the prospects of international

cooperation.

Regrettably, however, a counter-current of trade

protectionism has recently arisen in the ranks of developed

countries, designed to curtail the development of developing

countries and exclude them from the decision-making

process on major world economic issues. Any act

prejudicial to developing countries will in the final

analysis undermine the interests of developed countries.

International economic exchanges and cooperation should

be built on the basis of mutual complementarity. Facing

the tide of economic globalization, neither developed nor

developing countries should resort to trade protectionism.

Rather, both should make the necessary readjustments and

reforms in the light of their own national conditions in

order to promote their welfare and keep out of harm’s

way. Only by enhancing international exchanges and

cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit

can we jointly cope with new problems arising in the

course of world economic advances and achieve sustained

common development and prosperity.

No one should overlook the unevenness of world

development and the ever widening gap between

developed and developing countries. Caught in the web of

relentless international competition, the least-developed

countries are in distress, and the risk of marginalization

is looming large. To make matters worse, the amount of

official development assistance from richer countries is

shrinking every year, with more stringent conditions

attached. The coffers of the United Nations Capital

Development Fund are drying up, and future prospects are

grim indeed. The international community, and especially

the developed countries, are duty-bound to take effective

measures to reverse this dire situation. The promotion of

economic development and the prosperity of all countries,

and the elimination of poverty should always be at the top

of the United Nations agenda.

Strengthening international cooperation in the field

of the environment and development is a vital link in

global efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Four years after the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development, the public has become

increasingly aware of the importance of environmental

protection. Sustainable development has become a major

objective in the socio-economic development strategies of

all countries. However, international cooperation in this

domain is disappointingly lagging. Developed countries

have failed to live up to their pledges under Agenda 21 in

terms of funding and technology transfer, yet they

demand that developing countries accept obligations

exceeding their capability at their present level of

development. It is hoped that next year’s special session

on environment and development will be able to resolve

these issues.

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Poverty, unemployment, the problem of refugees,

crime, over-population, environmental deterioration, drug

abuse and terrorism — these scourges remain formidable

and impede global stability and development. In the face of

these challenges, all countries should not only carry out

social development policies commensurate with their own

national conditions, but should also actively cooperate with

one another in line with the principles of mutual respect,

equality and mutual benefit. The United Nations needs to

enhance its social programmes focusing on developing

countries.

The international community at large should press for

the implementation of the follow-up actions of the Cairo

International Conference on Population and Development,

the Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development and

the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women in favour

of universal social development.

Our Organization has gone through vicissitudes in the

course of half a century. Enormous changes have taken

place on the world scene. It is imperative for the United

Nations to carry out appropriate rational reforms so that it

can better perform the noble mission of the times and usher

a better world into the twenty-first century.

All reforms must be conducive to realizing the

purposes and principles of the Charter and to improving the

efficiency of the United Nations. They must also contribute

to a more positive and effective United Nations role in

promoting world peace and common development. They

must conform to the principle of the sovereign equality of

all States, and reflect the aspirations of the developing

countries, which comprise more than two-thirds of the

membership. Democratic consultations should be practiced

throughout this process. We are confident that we will be

able to achieve a broad consensus as long as all of us

engage in patient deliberations in the spirit of openness and

fair play, and with a readiness to consider all legitimate

concerns.

The United Nations continues to be plagued by a

serious financial crisis. The Organization cannot function

normally without firm and reliable fiscal resources. We call

on the major countries whose financial contributions to the

Organization are in arrears to fulfil the financial obligations

set forth in the Charter by unconditionally paying up in full

without further delay.

Major progress has been made in the field of arms

control and disarmament since the last session of the

General Assembly. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban

Treaty resulting from two and a half years of negotiations

has finally been adopted by the General Assembly.China

actively participated in the Treaty negotiations and

displayed maximum flexibility, thereby contributing

significantly to the final conclusion of the Treaty. We

have always stood for the complete prohibition and

thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. In our view, the

comprehensive test-ban Treaty is only a first step in the

entire process of comprehensive nuclear disarmament.

There are still large stockpiles of nuclear arms in the

world. Some nuclear Powers still refuse to undertake not

to be the first to use such weapons. We still have a long

way to go, and must continue to work strenuously in

order to achieve the ultimate goal of the total elimination

of nuclear weapons.

In order to expedite nuclear disarmament and free

ourselves from the danger of nuclear war forever, I wish

to reiterate the following calls on behalf of the Chinese

Government: first, the major nuclear Powers should

renounce their policy of nuclear deterrence; those

possessing huge nuclear arsenals should continue to cut

back their stockpiles drastically.

Secondly, all nuclear States should assume the

obligation not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at

any time or under any circumstances; they should

unconditionally renounce the use or threat of use of such

weapons against non-nuclear States or nuclear-free zones;

and they should conclude international instruments to that

effect without delay.

Thirdly, those States which have deployed nuclear

weapons overseas should withdraw them completely; all

nuclear States should pledge support for moves to set up

nuclear-free zones; they should respect the status of such

zones and assume corresponding obligations.

Fourthly, all States should refrain from developing

or deploying weapons systems in outer space and missile

defence systems that undermine strategic security and

stability.

Fifthly, all States should negotiate with a view to

concluding an international convention on the complete

prohibition and total destruction of nuclear weapons.

Since mankind was able to produce nuclear weapons

in the twentieth century, it is fully capable of abolishing

them in the twenty-first century. The Chinese Government

and people are ready to join hands with all Governments

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and peoples of the world to strive for the realization of this

lofty goal.

My country continues to press forward along the road

of reform, opening up and modernization. Our economy

maintains a healthy momentum. The macroeconomic

environment continues to improve. We anticipate a growth

rate of around 10 per cent this year. Inflation will be kept

below 10 per cent. Despite severe natural disasters in some

parts of the country, we have still managed to gather a

bumper harvest of summer crops this year. Grain output for

the entire year is expected to top the previous year’s

figures. The Ninth Five-Year Plan for National Economic

and Social Development and the Outline of the Long-Range

Objectives to the Year 2010 were inaugurated this year.

They depict a promising future for China’s modernization

drive at the turn of the century. By the year 2000, when our

population will have had a net increase of 300 million, we

expect to quadruple our 1980 per capita gross national

product. And by the year 2010 our gross national product

is anticipated to be twice that of the year 2000. Then we

will have put in place a viable socialist market economy.

Seventeen years of reform and opening up have

brought about a fourfold increase in our gross national

product. Our overall national strength will grow further in

another 15 years. Yet China will still be a developing

country with relatively low ranking in terms of indicators

such as per capita gross national product. China’s

development will only help to bolster the elements making

for peace. We pose no threat to anyone anywhere, but will

only help to strengthen the cause of world peace, stability

and development. On the other hand, if China fails to

achieve economic development and its population of 1.2

billion is mired in poverty, that would indeed be ominous

for world peace and stability.

China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over

Hong Kong as from 1 July 1997. This will be a milestone

in the great cause of our national reunification. It is also a

good example of how countries can peacefully resolve

issues left over by history. Preparations are under way to

put into effect our resumption of the exercise of sovereignty

over Hong Kong. We are fully capable of ensuring a

smooth transfer of government and transition in Hong

Kong. After Hong Kong’s return to the embrace of the

motherland, we will put into effect the policy of “one

country, two systems”. As a Special Administrative Region

of the People’s Republic of China, and in conformity with

the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region, Hong Kong will be administered by the Hong

Kong people. It will enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The

existing social and economic system and way of life will

remain unchanged, and the laws currently in force in

Hong Kong will be basically maintained. Hong Kong will

retain its status as an international trade, financial and

shipping centre, free port and separate customs territory.

Its long-term stability and prosperity will be guaranteed.

Foreign economic interests in Hong Kong will be

accommodated.

Twenty-five years ago, at its twenty-sixth session,

the General Assembly adopted the historic resolution

2758 (XXVI), solemnly declaring the restoration to the

People’s Republic of China all its lawful rights in the

United Nations. That resolution thoroughly settled the

question of China’s representation in the United Nation in

all aspects — political, legal and procedural.

There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is

an inalienable part of its sacred territory. “Peaceful

reunification and one country with two systems” — this

is our unswerving guideline for the settlement of the

Taiwan question. This question involves a cardinal

principle of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

and the great task of reunification. It is a purely internal

affair of China which will brook no outside interference.

The Chinese Government and people are determined to

carry through the struggle against all attempts to split

their territory or create an independent Taiwan. No force

on Earth can hold back China’s great cause of

reunification.

The world is on the march at top speed. New

contradictions and problems are constantly arising. The

profound changes in the international scene have brought

forth rare opportunities as well as serious challenges. Let

us seize the opportunities, meet the challenges and push

forward the cause of peace and development. Such is the

glorious mission which our times have bestowed on us.

The Chinese Government and people are ready to join

with all other Governments and peoples in this endeavour.