Chinese envoy urges int'l community to help young people tackle challenges arising from COVID-19 Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN urges the international community to help young people tackle challenges arising from the COVID-19 ...
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This is an interesting South China Post article by the Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun. How refreshing for Opinion Editorials being allowed to explain international political evolution and points of view by nations, a great move to more articulate expression!
I hope that China's speaking here of multilateralism, unilateralism, etc., includes the need to move forward to resolve the focused anger of nations with collapsed pandemic economies leading to inevitable legal conflicts resulting from this pandemic. That is better done and at much lower cost to nations in international courts, rather than allowing those conflicts to be ignored and continuing to expand the already staggering allocations for further research and production of biological weapons. Those conflicts are inevitably coming to the International Court of Justice, and better there than in battlefields.
Legal conflicts between nations deriving from the use of biological warfare are entirely appropriate, and the 75th General Assembly should soon takes step to end them entirely. People have the power in the nations who don't use biological weapons, or nuclear weapons for that matter, to simply stop buying products made in those nations. Maybe that would make these incipient pandemic angers clearer to Beijing?
The human race has evolved to the point that we really no longer needs these biological weapons; there are 16 nations with vast arsenals of these weapons, horrible products far worse than intentionally or accidental releasing a weaponized flu virus made in the Wuhan Virology Institute in China with funds invested from the United States, France, and China. If these 16 nations haven't got the point by now that those weapons will lead to worse suffering, more deprivations, and more staggering economic losses.
These are just a few reasons I am hoping that China will support, not veto, my plan to create a new United Nations Secretary General Pandemic Board of Inquiry, which could be put in place immediately after the May Security Council Meeting. The idea is to obtain evidence of what has happened and report those findings to the Secretary General, the International Court of Justice, and to those member states who wish to study and use them further. I invite Zhang Jun to relay this plan to President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and to Foreign Minister Wang Yi, State Councilor for further discussions and refinement, but I request that China still could vote for this plan, to pass it through the Security Council so that it can be rapidly added to the Secretary General's organizations. This would corroborate and prove China's sincere desire to uphold and strengthen multilateralism as expressed in the following article. It would be one small step forward for all mankind. I welcome to know China's response.
My UN plan is published here:
Chapter III: Towards Creating UN Secretary General's Pandemic Board of InquiryUNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in an op-ed published Tuesday by South China Morning Post that no country can be great in isolation, while stressing the importance of upholding multilateralism.
The newspaper published Zhang's op-ed titled "A lesson from Covid-19: no country can be great in isolation. Instead, we must strengthen multilateralism" on the occasion of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, which was observed Friday.
"Multilateralism, a collective choice made by humankind following a world war, has secured peace and development for the world over the past 75 years. At present, however, unilateralism is having a strong impact on multilateralism, threatening the international system centered on the UN, and shaking the international order underpinned by international law. This is truly worrying," Zhang said in the op-ed.
Noting that multilateralism is not outdated, Zhang said "the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of multilateralism to all countries. After hard struggles against the disease and the loss of countless lives, humankind has finally realized that the virus knows no borders, or race."
"Global collaboration, multilateral cooperation and collective strength is desperately needed in response to the pandemic. The overwhelming majority of countries fully support the World Health Organization, which has been central to multilateral cooperation efforts on health," said the envoy.
Zhang said the world faces a long list of formidable challenges, including armed conflicts, terrorism and climate change, adding that the global economy is plagued with uncertainties, as the spread of protectionism is disrupting global supply and industrial value chains and undermining world trade.
"This is compounded by acts of bullying, which are jeopardizing global peace and stability. We have no choice but to strengthen multilateral cooperation," he said.
"All countries, big or small, need multilateralism. In a world of interdependence, no one can escape a major challenge or get through it on its own. No country can make itself great in isolation," he added.
"In fact, big countries have a bigger stake in multilateral cooperation, because they usually have more expansive interests around the world, from investment to trade, from protection of nationals to public security. And they need to behave in a way that befits their status," said the envoy.
"Instead of putting their own interests above those of others, they should care for the common interests of all. Instead of carving out spheres of influence, they should work for an open world. Instead of provoking confrontation, they should take the lead in maintaining world peace and stability," Zhang said.
Noting that the trust deficit is the biggest crisis, the ambassador said that "trust, especially trust between major countries, is the foundation of effective cooperation and a prerequisite of coordinated action. This virus is terrible. Yet, what is more terrible is a political virus, such as a Cold War mentality or a zero-sum game, which harms everyone."
"Trust is built on mutual respect. China respects and learns from Western countries to work for shared prosperity. Western countries, for their part, need to respect the choices of the Chinese people and welcome the progress of a major country in the East, one with a different system from theirs," he said.
Zhang called for responsibility, noting that global governance requires concerted efforts and, more importantly, efforts by major countries.
He also called for equality. "Developing countries constitute the vast majority of the UN membership, and their rights should be fully guaranteed in global governance. Only when all parties engage on an equal footing will multilateral mechanisms have vigor and synergy, and succeed in maintaining international fairness and justice," he said.
"Achieving equality requires strong determination and sustained efforts. In this regard, China's Belt and Road Initiative follows the principle of consulting together, building together and sharing together, which is a true demonstration of equality of all," he added.
The envoy also said benefits for all are important.
"The biggest advantage of multilateral cooperation is that resources and strength can be mobilized to the greatest extent in joint responses to global challenges. This will benefit more countries, especially vulnerable ones, and ensure no one is left behind," he said.
"In combating Covid-19, solidarity for the mutual benefit of all is even more important. All countries should cherish the assistance received and try to help others. China is proud to have provided medical supplies to over 140 countries and international organizations, and will continue to help," said Zhang.
"We live in one world and have a shared future. Covid-19 will not be the last pandemic we have to face. Stronger and better multilateral cooperation is key to winning the battle, all the time. Now more than ever, it is a lesson that we cannot afford to ignore. Supporting multilateralism is supporting ourselves," said the ambassador.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-04/29/c_139016342.htm
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-29 04:39:32|Editor: huaxia
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Zhang Jun, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs
Areas of responsibility: International organizations and conferences, international economic affairs, and arms control
Born in Beining, Liaoning Province in August 1960. University Graduate.
1984-1988 Staff member, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (MFA)
1988-1990 Attache', General Office, MFA
1990-1990 Attache', Third Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, MFA
1990-1994 Third Secretary, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations
1994-1999 Second Secretary, Deputy Division Director, Division Director, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, MFA
1999-2000 Counselor, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, MFA
2000-2002 Deputy Director of the Administration Committee of the Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Zone of Zhejiang Province
2002-2004 Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, MFA
2004-2007 Secretary, General Office of the State Council
2007-2012 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
2012-2018 Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, MFA
2018- Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs
Married with one daughter
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My UN plan is published here:
Chapter III: Towards Creating UN Secretary General's Pandemic Board of Inquiry(Article changed on April 29, 2020 at 16:10)
(Article changed on April 30, 2020 at 01:47)
