UN at 80: China's contributions and future of multilateralism

Editor's Note: Gao Lei is an associate professor and research fellow at the Collaboration Centre for Theories and Practice of Open Economy, Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Opening-up, Research Institute of Globalization and China's Modernization, University of International Business & Economics. Xia Lu is a research fellow at the National Academy for Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China and deputy dean of the School of Marxism Studies at Xinjiang University. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN). Since its founding in 1945, the organization has remained the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental body, steadfastly safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and advancing international cooperation. Across eight decades it has played an irreplaceable role in the progress of humankind.

The purposes of the UN are enshrined in its Charter: to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems; and to serve as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. These objectives are as relevant today as they were in 1945. Faced with global challenges – from climate change and public-health emergencies to regional conflicts and widening wealth gaps – no country can stand aloof or tackle them alone. Multilateral cooperation and collective governance are the only pathways to global stability and prosperity, and the UN is the core platform of that multilateral system.

As a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the Security Council, China has been a staunch supporter of the organization and an active participant in its work. Since the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN and the Security Council in October 1971, China has fully performed its international obligations and made tangible contributions to the development of the organization and the improvement of global governance.

In the field of peace and security, China is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. Since it first deployed peacekeepers in 1990, it has sent more than 50,000 personnel to over 20 missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan, Mali and elsewhere. Among the permanent members of the Security Council, China is the largest troop-contributing country. China also supports the Secretary-General's Initiative on Action for Peacekeeping and actively participates in the negotiation of peacekeeping mandates and the formulation of protection-of-civilians policies.

In the area of development, China has achieved its own historic leap from poverty to a moderately prosperous society in all respects, lifting more than 770 million rural residents out of poverty. It has thereby met the poverty-reduction target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, accounting for over 70 percent of global poverty reduction during the same period. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and South-South cooperation, China has shared its development experience and provided substantial resources to other developing countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China was among the first to pledge that vaccines would be a global public good, supplying more than 2.2 billion doses to over 120 countries and international organizations, and donating $100 million to the COVAX facility.

China is also deeply engaged in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is actively pursuing its carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality goals, and has committed to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China has hosted the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and promoted the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, China has provided more than $2 billion to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, supporting projects in peace-building, counter-terrorism, the Sustainable Development Goals and humanitarian assistance.

The world is now undergoing changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, with unilateralism and protectionism on the rise, geopolitical tensions intensifying, and the global governance system facing severe challenges. Against this backdrop, the role of the UN as the core platform for multilateralism has become more prominent, even as the organization confronts greater difficulties. To enable the UN to fulfill its multilateral functions more effectively, all member states must adhere to the purposes and principles of the Charter, respect international law and the basic norms of international relations, and settle disputes through dialogue and consultation. It is also imperative to advance the reform of the UN in the areas of peace and security, development and management, so as to enhance its representation, efficiency and effectiveness, and to give developing countries greater voice and participation. Last but not least, the international community must work together to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the digital divide, and to advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China will continue to work with all countries to firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, safeguard the international order based on international law and the outcomes of WWII and promote the greater role of the UN in maintaining world peace, advancing common development and tackling global challenges. Having weathered 80 years of trials and triumphs, the UN carries the shared aspirations of all humankind. Looking ahead, only by upholding multilateralism and strengthening solidarity and cooperation can we jointly forge a brighter future of peace, development and shared prosperity.

(Cover: Logo of the United Nations is pictured at UN headquarters in New York, September 22, 2025. /VCG)