When the gavel fell on October 25, 1971, in the packed chamber of the 26th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Resolution 2758 was adopted, restoring the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China at the UN. Half a century later, China has grown from a participant to a driving force, turning commitments into concrete contributions that have left a lasting mark on peace, development and reform.

Expanding financial and peacekeeping support

China's return to the UN was quickly followed by a steady expansion of its participation across the organization's activities. In April 1990, China's armed forces dispatched five military observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and embarked on a new voyage as a participant in the UN peacekeeping operations. Since then, more than 50,000 Chinese peacekeepers have served in over 20 countries and regions, undertaking 26 UN missions including building roads, repairing schools, running field hospitals and protecting civilians. Seventeen Chinese service members have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of world peace.

China is now the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the five permanent members of the Security Council. Over 1,800 Chinese military personnel are currently serving in UN peacekeeping operations across seven mission areas and at the UN Headquarters. China has also registered an 8,000-strong standby force in the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, underscoring its determination to shoulder greater responsibilities.

This growing operational role has been matched by increasing financial support. China today stands as the second-largest contributor to both the UN's regular budget and its peacekeeping operations. China's assessed contribution to the UN regular budget has grown from less than one percent at the turn of the century to over one-fifth in recent years.

Driving the UN 2030 Agenda

At the UN General Assembly debate on September 26 this year, China announced the launch of a China-UN Global South-South Development Facility, pledging $10 million in funding and establishing the Shanghai Global Center for Sustainable Development (SGCSD) in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). These initiatives underscore China's determination to accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute concretely to global peace and prosperity.

This commitment builds on decades of action. By 2020, China had lifted 800 million people in the country out of absolute poverty, achieving the poverty reduction goals of the 2030 Agenda a full decade ahead of schedule. Through cooperation with UNDP and other partners, China has implemented 130 projects in 60 countries, benefiting over 30 million people globally. In agriculture, China has transitioned from being a recipient of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) technical assistance to a core contributor, working with over 140 countries, sharing more than 1,000 agricultural technologies and training over 14,000 hybrid rice specialists, directly enhancing food security across the Global South.

Looking forward, China has pledged 2,000 new livelihood projects in developing countries over the next five years, launched 200 maritime cooperation programs for small island states, and carried out a large-scale Clean Stove Project to support sustainable living. In green energy, China's world-leading renewable energy industrial chain has helped reduce global wind and solar costs by over 60 percent and 80 percent respectively, and China is already collaborating with more than 100 countries to expand clean-energy access, helping fill the global "green gap" and advance sustainable development.

Supporting UN reforms

China has reiterated its call for strengthening, not weakening, the role of the UN while noting reforms are needed to help the world body tackle global challenges.

China has also engaged constructively in the UN80 reform initiative, urging that institutional changes must be carefully planned, consensus-driven and results-oriented. The principle is clear: reform where necessary, preserve what works, and ensure the UN remains fit for purpose in the 21st century.

China has also called for greater representation for developing countries within the UN Secretariat, especially Africa, and insists that any change must reflect the broadest possible consensus.

From financing to peacekeeping, from poverty eradication to sustainable development, and from development projects to institutional reform, China has matched ambition with delivery. As global challenges mount, its message remains consistent and resolute: the world needs a stronger United Nations, and China will continue to be one of its most committed builders and defenders.