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Thursday, October 25, 2001, updated at 16:47(GMT+8)
Opinion  

Restoration of China's UN Seat: Major Historic Event That Changes World Pattern


30th Anniversary of China's UN Seat Celebrated in Beijing
Following are the main points of the interview conducted between People's Daily correspondents Guo Yongyi and Wu Yingchun and Mme Zhang Hanzhi on the occasion marking the 30th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations.

Popular Feeling: Restoration of China's Lawful Seat in the UN

One early autumn morning, we went to have an interview with Mme Zhang Hanzhi (who was the then deputy representative of the Chinese Delegation to the UN General Assembly) according to an appointment. We began our conversation directly with the phase of history in which the Chinese stood up and felt proud. Her voice was clear and resonant, filled with a sense of pride, saying: "Ousting the Taiwan Kuomintang representative and restoring China's legal seat in the United Nations is an event that changes the world pattern."

China is one of the founding members of the United Nations. In 1949, the Chinese people overthrew the Chiang Kai-shek clique's reactionary rule and founded the People's Republic of China, the lawful seat in the United Nations should logically be held by the People's Republic of China, the only legal representative of China. However, due to the obstruction by the United States and other Western forces, over the previous 20 years and more, China's legal right had all along been unreasonably deprived of. In 1971, the situation underwent major changes, in July US National Security Affairs Assistant Henry Kissinger paid a secret visit to China, after which he declared that US President Richard Nixon would visit China; in October, Kissinger paid a second visit to China. Under such circumstances, the anti-China camp within the United Nations began to split and crumble. The motion tabled by 23 countries including Albania and Algeria concerning the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations was passed by an overwhelming majority.

At that time, this result was unexpected to the Americans," Zhang Hanzhi described what an awkward position the Americans were in. She said when Kissinger held talks with the Chinese side during his China visit in October 1971, he brought up the issue about China's seat in the UN. At that time he revealed to Premier Zhou Enlai, saying that after President Nixon's China visit in the early spring of 1972, he would give the green light to China's entry into the United Nations, in autumn that year, China was expected to have its legitimate seat restored in the United Nations.. What was ironical was on the day when Kissinger was about to leave China after the conclusion of his China tour, the UN General Assembly passed the resolution, Premier Zhou told Kissinger about the matter when he saw Kissinger off at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, at that time Kissinger felt very embarrassed.

After the Chinese Delegation's arrival in New York, lots of interesting news were heard. In order to obstruct the passing of this motion, US Ambassador Bush and other US officials to the UN were said to have held talks more than 200 times with representatives from over 100 countries, resorting to the practice of intimidation and bribery by promising the granting or cessation of aid. Some countries voiced their dissatisfaction, saying: "you Americans get in touch with China while asking us to oppose China, what kind of logic is this? The Americans said that if this really couldn't be done, you could abstain from voting rather than casting affirmative votes. In fact, representatives from various countries did not even want to cast votes of abstentions, some representatives were absent at the time of voting. Despite some abstentions, the motion was passed with an overwhelming majority at the time of voting. At the time, long-time warm applause and cheers resounded through the big hall. The Americans were greatly angry, but felt helpless. Chiang Kai-shek's "foreign minister" went away in dejection with his entourage.

Making First Appearance: Chinese Delegation to the UN

On October 26, 1971, the then UN Secretary-general U Thant sent a cable to Chinese Acting Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei, officially informed him of the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on restoring China's all rights in the United Nations and immediately ousting Chiang Kai-shek's representative. On October 29, Ji Pengfei sent a message to U Thant, telling him that China would soon send a delegation to attend the UN General Assembly session. Members of the Delegation were decided on by Chairman Mao himself, he designated Qiao Guanhua (vice-foreign minister) as head of the Delegation. Premier Zhou concretely led the work of organizing the Delegation. Zhang Hanzhi said that before the departure of the Delegation, Chairman Mao repeatedly received and instructed the Delegation. When the chairman met with them the last time, he gave very important words, "Nothing venture, nothing gain." The chairman meant to say that we went to the United Nations was to occupy this position. On November 9, 1971 when the Chinese Delegation left Beijing for New York, more than 4,000 people, including Party and State leaders Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying and all members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee , the masses of the capital and officers and men of the Chinese People's Liberation Army as well as envoys of many countries saw them off at the airport. Commentaries from foreign news agencies said that the seeing-off ceremony was as grand as that of welcoming foreign heads of State, indicating top Chinese leaders' high attention and expectations of the Chinese Delegation who made their first appearance in the UN General Assembly.

The first appearance of the Chinese Delegation in the United Nations was also regarded as a major event by the US side. Reporters of various major media also came for news covering and waited at the New York Kennedy Airport for their arrival.

Heart-stirring: Chinese Delegation Warmly Welcomed in UN

The Chinese Delegation scheduled to attend the 26th UN General Assembly arrived in New York on November 11, then head and members of the Delegation began a series of courtesy -calling activities: calling on U Thant, and president of the 26th UN General Assembly session, as well as resident representatives of some countries to the UN. On November 14, Qiao Guanhua handed in the credentials of the Chinese Delegation to U Thant who was then receiving medical treatment at the hospital. The next day, the Chinese Delegation attended the UN General Assembly session for the first time. When mentioning the situation about this, Zhang Hanzhi was very excited, saying that when "we came to the assembly hall of the UN, the UN Protocol Department head greeted Qian Guanhua and his party at the gate which was thronged with reporters who were rushing to take a "historic" snapshot. While talking about this, Zhang Hanzhi took out from her study an album consisting of dozens of black-and-white photos which she had kept for 30 years, one of which shows the laughing Qiao Guanhua as he stepped into the assembly hall. His laugh indicated the pride and self-confidence of the Chinese people. An acute foreign photographer took a timely snapshot of this historic news photo which was later awarded a world news prize in Switzerland.

Chinese Delegation's presence at the session was a matter of great sensation. Representatives of many friendly countries came forward to express their congratulations and welcome. President of the General Assembly session first delivered his welcoming speech, then representatives of many countries mounted the platform one after another to take the floor, welcoming the Chinese Delegation. Altogether there were 57 representatives, including US and Soviet delegates, also spoke at the General Assembly session.

Zhang Hanzhi said that evening, delegation head Qiao delivered an important speech, which was also a grand, unprecedented occasion.

Instances of the Chinese Delegation accorded with warm welcome in the UN were too many to enumerate.

The Chinese Delegation's first arrival at the United Nations created a great stir among the UN working personnel. Most of the personnel with the UN Chinese Language Section came from Taiwan, totaling several hundred, one of them was Gu Juzhen, eldest daughter of renowned modern Chinese diplomat Gu Weijun. After the Chinese Delegation came to the United Nations, some of them gave up their job as employees of the UN Chinese Language Section, but the overwhelming majority of them remained, these people adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward the Chinese Delegation. What they saw was that the Chinese Delegation used the Chinese language when they spoke on official occasions, they also saw that the Chinese people did not acknowledge the superiority of the United States and the Soviet Union, and they truly represented the interests of Asia, Africa and Latin America. They had never seen such expressions of behavior in the United Nations before. The original "Taiwan group" always tailed after the Americans. When they saw that China had the style of its own, they felt proud as being Chinese. Zhang Hanzhi clearly remembered the words Gu Juzhen told her at that time: "Do you know what is my feeling at the moment? I feel China is in its heyday just like that after the rejuvenation of the Tang Dynasty and is enjoying rising national strength." Gu's attitude was illustrative, those working personnel from Taiwan had also gradually changed their attitude, willingly serving the Chinese Delegation.







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Following are the main points of the interview conducted between People's Daily correspondents Guo Yongyi and Wu Yingchun and Mme Zhang Hanzhi on the occasion marking the 30th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations.

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