First of all, please allow me to pay respects to:
His Majesty King Letsie III, head of state of the Kingdom of Lesotho,
His Right Honorable Prime Minister Matekane, head of government of the Kingdom of Lesotho,
Honourable President of the Senate,
Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Lordship Chief Justice,
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister,
Honourable Cabinet Ministers, especially Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Hon. Lejone Mpotjoane.
Members of the press,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to the Chinese Embassy. It is a great pleasure to be here with you today to reaffirm a resolution of profound historic and contemporary significance: the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, adopted on October 25, 1971.

At the beginning, let’s look back at the historical context to understand the origins of UNGA Resolution 2758. China’s status as a founding member of the U.N. and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council was affirmed when the Charter of the United Nations was signed in 1945. At that time, the official name of China was the Republic of China (ROC). In 1949, the Chinese people, led by the Communist Party of China(CPC), overthrew the ROC government. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded, becoming the successor to the ROC, and the Central People’s Government of the PRC became the only legal government of the whole of China. The Chiang Kai-shek clique fled to Taiwan region and claimed to be the ROC by themselves. It was the replacement of the old government by the new one, while China, as a subject of international law, stayed unchanged; and China’s sovereignty and inherent territorial boundaries stayed unchanged. Thus, the government of the PRC naturally and fully enjoys and exercises China’s sovereignty, including sovereignty over Taiwan. According to international law, all rights of China at the U.N. should be enjoyed and exercised by the PRC. However, as a result of the United States and some Western countries strongly obstructing it and deliberately setting up obstacles, the seat has been under prolonged illegal occupation by the Chiang Kai-shek clique.

At its 26th session in 1971, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which undertook "to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it". The Resolution settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China’s representation in the U.N. It reaffirmed a principle of international justice and restored the rightful place of the People’s Republic of China in the international community.

More than five decades on, this Resolution remains a cornerstone for understanding the one-China principle, one of the most fundamental principles in today’s international relations and for safeguarding the authority of the United Nations and the post-war international order. I would like to share three key points about UNGA Resolution 2758:

First, UNGA Resolution 2758 Solemnly Confirms and Fully Embodies the One-China Principle.

The one-China principle stands as a universally recognized norm governing international relations and forms the political foundation for China’s relations with all other countries. The full version of the principle reads as follows: There’s but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Every country should firmly oppose all forms of "Taiwan independence", and resolutely support the Chinese government to realize national reunification. 

The one-China principle is the premise and foundation for UNGA Resolution 2758, while the Resolution solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle. With categorical words, UNGA Resolution 2758 reaffirms that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal representative of the whole of China. 

The adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758 not only restored China’s lawful seat in the United Nations but also institutionalized the one-China principle within the UN system and the broader international community. Furthermore, the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758 had a wide-reaching and profound political impact on the practice of international relations. It effectively made the one-China principle a basic norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community.

Second, UNGA Resolution 2758 Determines Taiwan’s Status.

Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests. It is of critical importance to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. UNGA Resolution 2758 resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the U.N., as a political, legal and procedural issue. UNGA Resolution 2758 carries extensive and authoritative legal force and serves as the authoritative basis for the U.N. and organizations related to it to properly handle the Taiwan question. The Resolution has thus defined Taiwan’s position in international law and practice: Taiwan, as part of China, does not have any independent status in the UN system. The United Nations considers Taiwan as a province of China and the Taiwan authorities do not enjoy any form of governmental status. After the adoption of the Resolution, all official U.N. documents referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China." It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the U.N. Secretariat that "the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status" and the "‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to enjoy any form of government status." This has been the consistent position of the U.N. and is clearly documented.

A handful of external forces have groundlessly asserted that as the terms "Republic of China" and "Taiwan" did not appear in Resolution 2758, the Resolution has nothing to do with Taiwan. The fact is that UNGA Resolution 2758 completely precluded any possibility of creating"two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." The U.N. is an international organization of sovereign states, and accepts only representatives from such states. Since Taiwan is part of China, not a sovereign state, it therefore has no right to send representatives to the U.N. Although in 1949, the Chiang Kai-shek clique continued to use "Republic of China" and "government of the Republic of China" after retreating to Taiwan, however, the so-called "Republic of China" and "government of the Republic of China" in 1949 were fundamentally different from the "Republic of China" and "government of the Republic of China" in 1945 when the U.N. Charter was signed. It had no authority to exercise state sovereignty on behalf of China and had no right to continue representing China in the U.N. Therefore, the term "representative of the government of the Republic of China" must not be used in UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971, and the phrase "expelling the representatives of the Taiwan authorities" must not be used either.

Third, the Authority of UNGA Resolution 2758 Brooks No Dispute or Challenge.

UNGA Resolution 2758 is of profound significance to the authority of the United Nations and the stability of the post-war international order.

After World War II, the United Nations was founded to uphold peace, security, and equality among nations. The UN Charter enshrines respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity as fundamental principles. UNGA Resolution 2758 was adopted in that very spirit. The Resolution clearly states that “recalling the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” “the restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China is essential both for the protection of the Charter of the United Nations and for the cause that the United Nations must serve under the Charter.” This reflects the Resolution’s clear position on upholding the authority of the United Nations. The United Nations is at the center of the post-World War II international order. The restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat in the U.N. marked the return of the Chinese people, or one-fourth of the world’s population, to the stage of the U.N. This is of great, far-reaching significance both to China and the world. Any attempt to challenge Resolution 2758 constitutes not only a challenge to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a challenge to the authority of the U.N. as well as the post-World War II international order. Flagrantly reversing the course of history is absurd and highly dangerous. That is why any attempt to challenge or distort Resolution 2758 is not merely a political provocation against China, it is also a challenge to the authority of the United Nations and a denial of the post-war international order that has underpinned global peace and development for nearly eight decades. 

As the world faces growing uncertainty, ranging from geopolitical competition to regional conflicts. It is more important than ever to uphold the principles that maintain peace and order. Upholding UNGA Resolution 2758 therefore, goes beyond safeguarding China’s sovereignty; it is about defending the UN Charter, preserving international justice, and protecting the integrity of the multilateral system.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

UNGA Resolution 2758 is more than a document in history books. It is a living embodiment of fairness, justice, and respect for sovereignty. It confirmed and embodied the one-China principle, determined Taiwan’s status as part of China, and reinforced the UN-centered post-war order that continues to serve as the foundation of world peace. To respect UNGA Resolution 2758 is to respect history, the rule of law, and the collective voice of the international community. To challenge it is to undermine the very order that keeps the world stable.

Last month, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China’s top legislative body, voted to designate Oct.25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration. This establishment demonstrates the unwavering commitment of all Chinese people to uphold the one-China principle and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also reflects the CPC’s steadfast resolve to fulfill its historical mission and achieve complete reunification of the motherland, and further strengthened the international consensus that there is only one China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of that one China.

Lesotho has issued statements firmly supporting the one-China principle and supporting China’s efforts to achieve complete reunification many times. This constitutes the political foundation for our bilateral relations. We appreciate the consistent position of Lesotho on supporting the one-China principle. Let us work together to honour UNGA Resolution 2758, to uphold the authority of the United Nations, to defend the principles of the UN Charter, and to safeguard the one-China principle.

Thank you very much.