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Responsible stakeholder

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-02 07:40

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday takes place at a critical juncture in the six-party talks on denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Speculation is rife about a new round of the negotiations being round the corner after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea submitted a nuclear report to China and destroyed a symbolically significant nuclear reactor cooling tower last week.

China's role as the host of the multilateral negotiations is increasingly visible and important.

This is Ban's first visit to China as the commander-in-chief of the world organization. Chinese leaders are expected to compare notes with him on international issues.

His schedule shows the nature of the relationship between the world body and the country. The UN has not only established partnership with the Chinese Government but also with business and civil society in the country.

The UN should continue to improve its collective security mechanism to cement multilateral dialogue when the world addresses global challenges and pursues sustainable peace and stability of mankind.

China has stood behind the world organization and helped it play a bigger role in world affairs.

The country has participated in the UN's activities on security, development and human rights, and safeguarded the world organization's privilege.

It has showed the world its obligation toward becoming a "responsible stakeholder" and playing a larger role in international entities such as the UN.

The country's active participation in UN peacekeeping missions not only demonstrates its support for the UN, but is also an embodiment of the fulfillment of its obligations as a major world power.

While joining the UN peacekeeping missions, Chinese peace-keepers refuse to be a party to a conflict. It stresses the need to tackle the root causes of conflicts through comprehensive measures. The country sends the second largest contingent of the "blue helmet" soldiers only behind France. Chinese peacekeepers are seen actively involved in peace-keeping tasks from Central America to the South Pacific region.

On the economic front, the Chinese Government has made it clear that the growth mode for the country's economy will be put on an energy-saving and environment-friendly basis.

China is becoming an active player in the international system and will continue to do so in the future.

(China Daily 07/02/2008 page8)