China.org.cn | September 23, 2020
Ren Guoqiang:
Friends from the media, good morning. Today we officially publish the white paper – China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations. Just as Director Hu has said, this is the first thematic white paper issued by the Chinese government on our armed forces' participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs). We all know this year marks the 75th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 30th year since China's armed forces first participated in UN peacekeeping operations. It also marks the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's attendance at the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping at U.N. headquarters (UNHQ). We are releasing the white paper at this critical moment mainly to review the glorious journey of involvement by China's armed forces in the UNPKOs, to expound our ideas, policies and practices regarding safeguarding of world peace in the new era, to present the new actions being undertaken, new responsibilities assumed and new contributions made since President Xi's attendance at the summit, and to reveal a vision for future participation in UNPKOs, and to call on the international community to work together to safeguard world peace and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
This white paper comprises of 14,000 Chinese characters in four parts – the preface, the main body, the closing remarks and annexes. The main body is made up of five chapters:
The first is "Embarking on Missions for World Peace." This chapter mainly introduces the original aspirations and the mission of China's armed forces taking part in UNPKOs, and expounds the policies and ideas they have upheld through the process of safeguarding world peace. This chapter also raises issues such as upholding the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and following the basic principles of the UNPKOs, emphasizing a vision of global governance and new concepts of security issues, advocating peaceful means in settling disputes and cementing peacekeeping partnerships.
The second is "A Key Force in UNPKOs." This chapter introduces the important practices of China's armed forces while participating in UNPKOs, shows the diversified tasks they have undertaken, reflects on their achievements and contributions from different angles through data and examples, and tells touching stories of Chinese military peacekeepers.
The third is "Implementation of the Pledges Announced at the U.N. Summit." This chapter presents the progress that has been achieved in the past five years in the thorough implementation of the pledges made by President Xi Jinping at the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping at UNHQ, so as to show that, as a responsible major country, China has taken on international responsibilities through the new actions taken, new responsibilities assumed and new contributions made by China during the process of participating in UNPKOs.
The fourth is "Active Efforts for Greater International Cooperation." This chapter states that China's armed forces have been upholding the principles of reciprocity, mutual trust, and cooperation for win-win results and have proactively carried out exchanges and cooperation with the international community in close strategic communications, the sharing of experiences and building on developing greater capabilities. It shows the global image of China's armed forces which is open and confident, and demonstrates the efforts they have made and the sincerity they have entertained in jointly improving international peacekeeping capabilities and in contributing Chinese wisdom.
The fifth is "Contributing to Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind." This chapter introduces the future vision and initiative of China's armed forces in participating in UNPKOs, highlights how they are contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and lets the international community see that they will actively participate in UNPKOs as usual to make new and more important contributions to safeguarding world peace.
Next, my colleagues and I will answer your questions.