Interview: China can play even bigger role in global governance using UN platform: expert

by Xinhua writer Ma Jianguo

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China could play a much bigger and more active role in global governance using the platform of the United Nations (UN), as China's governance notions agree with the organization's goals, a senior UN expert said here Tuesday.

"President Xi's idea of building a community of shared destiny for mankind is well in line with the UN agenda, which prioritizes peace and development," said Abdelkader Abbadi, an author and international consultant who has worked at the UN headquarters for 50 years.

As the biggest contributor to peacekeeping, China has proven it is a real advocate of UN ideals and is setting a great example for the world, with its role in South-South cooperation and its remarkable progress in bringing over millions out of poverty over decades, said the expert.

China is playing an active role in global peacemaking and peacekeeping, as it puts its traditional philosophy of peace and good neighborliness into modern practice, he said.

In 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covering mankind's endeavor to address the issues of climate change, population, poverty, refugees, economic and financial instability, and inequality that, if not properly handled, could endanger the world economy, peace and stability, said Abbadi.

All these problems, he said, are evolving into global threats that demand efforts from each and every member of the international community.

The SDGs are also an expression of interdependence. No matter whether poor or rich, small or large, all nations depend on one another for our future, he said.

Developed economies will be at risk if they do not address the problem of inequality, said the expert, adding that no nation could enjoy sustained development if the global ecosystem is destroyed.

Our future generations need collective wisdom and actions, Abbadi said.

From this perspective, all of the 17 SDGs, especially climate change and pollution, are global challenges that must be solved by the world as a whole, and if not handled properly, these issues might pose inter-generational problems, he said.

Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China is showing that it is truly embracing the notion of being partners with and sharing its success with other nations, said the UN official.

The expert quoted the Chinese saying "Improve yourself when you are poor, commit to the world's welfare when you are rich."

"Now that China is better off and has such powers, the UN should be the best platform for it to practice its traditional philosophy, and make our world a better place to live," said Abbadi. Enditem