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By H.E. Wang Qing
Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone
Peace, like sunshine, is hardly noticeable when we benefit from it. Facing the ever-changing era in this turbulent world, people of all countries have increasingly strong expectations for peace and tranquility. For a long time, China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order, committed to taking responsibility for world peace and contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to global security.
In February this year, China issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper to further elaborate on the initiative’s core ideas and principles as well as the 20 priorities of cooperation and 5 categories of platforms and mechanisms. They could be summarized as follows:
- Upholding the UN’s central role in security governance.
- Promoting coordination and sound interactions among major countries.
- Facilitating peaceful settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue.
- Tackling traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
- Strengthening the system and capacity for global security governance.
The Global Security Initiative (GSI) has been widely commended and warmly received by the international community, among which more than 80 countries and a number of international organizations have expressed appreciation and support to this initiative.
On the first anniversary of the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine, China released China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, which takes into account the reasonable concerns of all parties and reflects the broadest consensus of the international community on the crisis, playing a constructive role in alleviating the spillover of the crisis and promoting a political settlement.
During his visit to Russia in March, President Xi Jinping had an in-depth exchange of views with President Putin on the Ukraine issue, He emphasized that the more difficulties there are, the greater the need to keep space for peace. The more acute the problem is, the more important it is not to give up efforts for dialogue.
In the phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 26th, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the Ukraine crisis is evolving in complex ways with major impacts on the international landscape; dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out; China’s core stance is to facilitate talks for peace. This is part of China’s commitment to living up to its responsibility as a major country.
China has actively engaged in mediation diplomacy and made unremitting efforts for resolving conflicts, calling for peace, and contributing to the long-term peace and stability in the world. On March 10th, Saudi Arabia and Iran held a dialogue in China and reached the Beijing Agreement, which clarified the roadmap and timetable for improving the two nations’ relations. On April 6th, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran met in Beijing and announced the restoration of diplomatic relations. Since then, there has been a wave of reconciliation in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia and Oman have pushed for a political settlement of the Yemen issue. Qatar and Bahrain decided to resume diplomatic relations. Syria’s foreign minister visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the first time after more than ten years. Nine Arabian countries including Saudi Arabia met to discuss the return of Syria to the League of Arab States. On April 12nd , China released China’s Position on the Afghan Issue, which covers 11 aspects, including supporting moderate and prudent governance in Afghanistan, supporting peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan, supporting Afghanistan in countering terrorism resolutely and forcefully etc. China stands ready to help Afghanistan embark on a path of stability and development at an early date.
This year also marks the 31st anniversary of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) with its first formed military unit. Over the past 31 years, China has sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UNPKOs in over 20 countries and regions. A total of 25 Chinese peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice. Being the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments, China has become a key actor in UNPKOs.
Chinese civilization is characterized by peace, amity and harmony. China upholds that the whole world is one family and we should promote coordination and cooperation between all countries with solidarity and common development in harmony. As the biggest developing country, China always keeps in mind the greater good of the whole world. The Chinese path is a path toward development of China, through which more positive energy will be added to global peace and new opportunities created for global development. In the future, China will stand firm on the right side of history and the progressive side of humanity, continuing to work with all peace-loving sides in the world to jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility of mankind and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
