24 October 2025

Dear colleagues, 

Friends, 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. 80 years ago, the devastating impact of two world wars prompted the international community to reflect deeply and, with the aspiration of a world free of war, established the United Nations — marking a new chapter in global governance. History bears witness to the past and also illuminates the future. Over the past eight decades, the UN has played an irreplaceable role in safeguarding world peace and promoting human progress. In recent years, however, it has encountered mounting headwinds, such as protectionism, unilateralism, withdrawn and cutting funds, which seriously undermine the multilateral system with the UN at its core, especially when we are facing an increasing number of multi-dimensional challenges. Some countries have unilaterally withdrawn from treaties and organizations or cut funding, seriously undermining the effectiveness of global governance by multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. In certain multilateral discussions, even words like “development” and “fairness” have become sources of division and confrontation. Such tendencies clearly run counter to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter

Standing at a historic crossroads, the international community must respond to the pressing question of our time: how to reform and improve the global governance system.

Secretary-General António Guterres has offered his answer through the UN80 Initiative aiming to enhance efficiency and revive the authority and vitality of the UN through deepened reform. As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the Security Council, China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative, which calls for upholding sovereign equality, adhering to international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on concrete action to build a fairer and more equitable global governance system.

These two initiatives complement each other and share the same goal: to reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and to unite under the UN flag in meeting the challenges of our time.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The best way to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations is to safeguard the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order.

On 25 October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted Resolution 2758, restoring all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. Over the past 54 years, China has faithfully acted upon the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, becoming an important builder of world peace, the largest contributor to global development, and a steadfast defender of the international order. As an integral part of the post-war international order, this resolution politically, legally, and procedurally resolved once and for all the issue of representation of the whole China with Taiwan as part of it in the UN. Recently, the Chinese government released a position paper on the UNGA Resolution 2758, stating that the resolution solemnly affirmed and fully embodied the one-China principle—that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. A handful of countries’ deliberate distortions and challenges to Resolution 2758 not only undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also challenge the authority of the United Nations and the post-war international order. Such actions are both absurd and dangerous, and are doomed to failure.

Dear colleagues and friends, 

Today, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress adopted a decision to legally designate October 25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration. Documents of international law such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that Taiwan, which had been seized by Japan, should be returned to China. On October 25, 1945, the ceremony to accept Japan’s surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taibei (Taipei), marking the restoration of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. These international legal documents and historical facts together affirm China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and form an integral part of the post-war international order. The restoration of Taiwan was a major achievement of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It stands as solid proof of the Chinese government’s resumption of sovereignty over Taiwan, an essential link in the historical and legal chain showing that Taiwan is part of China, and a shared glory and national memory for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and all Chinese people. The designation of this Commemoration Day demonstrates China’s strong resolve and firm will to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is not only fully in line with the spirit of UNGA Resolution 2758, but also is a strong embodiment of one-China principle which is shared by the international community.

Dear colleagues and friends,

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China concluded just yesterday. The meeting deliberated and adopted China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. China will continue to focus on running its own affairs well, uphold the principle of putting the people first, pursue high-quality development, deepen reform comprehensively, and further expand high-standard opening-up. While writing new chapters in the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, and advancing Chinese modernization, we will also pursue shared opportunities and common development with all countries around the world.

In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm that the Chinese government stands ready to work with the international community to safeguard the post-war international order and to revive the authority and vitality of the United Nations. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all colleagues and friends for your strong support for the one-China principle.