An Examination and Prospect of the Grand Millennium MeetingAs Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations, said at the UN Millennium Summit: The gathering of so many heads of State at the General Assembly of the United Nations is an unprecedented event. It is a major, unusual event, an unusual opportunity and is, therefore, an unusual responsibility.As we comprehensively examine the speeches given by heads of various countries, we find that they have all examined the various problems facing today's human society. In the age when the genetic code of life has been broken and solved, there are still many people who have died of undernourishment and disease. In the era of economic globalization and informationization, the gap between North and South has further widened, the problem of poverty has tended to become increasingly serious. In the age of the continuously extended ability of humankind, the ecological crisis resulted from human activities has become ever-more grave, the problem of desertification and the problems of air pollution and the effect of hothouse are posing threat to the overall survival of humankind. In human society, wars and conflicts broken out due to factors such as belief, religion, race and nationality still frequently occur, tragedies resulting from inter-strife of human beings continue to happen. The many a threat and challenge which carry an ever pronounced global nature need to be coped with by global efforts. It was against such a background that the UN Millennium Summit was held, it also represents an attempt and effort made by various countries to coordinate a global countermeasure. At the moment which calls for choice, human beings must make brave and sensible choice, this is done for the coming millennium, and for children of today and tomorrow. At the recent unprecedented Millennium Summit, the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations, in response to China's proposal, held their summit meeting for the first time. President Jiang Zemin pointed out that the proposal made by the Chinese side to hold this meeting aims to embody the attention and support given by the five permanent Security Council members to the United Nations and to strengthen the role of the UN Security Council. President Jiang Zemin suggested that the five permanent Security Council members, under the new situation, should abide by the following four principles: Respecting each other and treating each other as equals; expanding common view and seeking common ground while reserving differences; increasing communication and bringing about closer coordination; taking the interests of the whole into account and promoting cooperation. The summit meeting of the five permanent Security Council members which received the positive appraisal of the participants is of important historical and immediate significance. In the past century, the international community was in the order of power politics and in a certain anarchic state. At present, people have come to realize that in the new century and new millennium, humankind needs a more civilized, more harmonious, more tranquil and more just and reasonable international new society and international new order. At the recent UN Millennium Summit, China showed its great concern and a high sense of responsibility for the destiny of humankind, China is willing to join efforts with various countries around the world to create a better future for human society. |
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