Congratulations to the Chinese Permanent Mission on the successful concert to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the WorldAnti-Fascist War, and the Founding of the UN at the VIC. Tell me more about this concert.

Li Song: The concert was about passions. Great causes of humankind always embody strong and lasting passions. At the concert, everyone was deeply moved by the strong passions of patriotism and the multilateral spirit of openness and inclusiveness. At the end, the Vienna Chinese Philharmonic Choir, the UN Choir Vienna and the talented young Chinese violinist HE Ziyu performed “We are the World” together. It was a moment transcending time and space, race and culture, vividly demonstrating the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.

What is the significance of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression for China?

Li Song: The Chinese people defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors after fighting heroically for 14 years, marking the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. It was a historic turning point for the Chinese nation emerging from grave crises to embark on the journey toward great rejuvenation. It was also a major turning point in the course of world history. The Chinese people achieved victory through united efforts with the anti-fascist allied forces and the people around the world. Taiwan’s restoration to China stands as an integral part of the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order. A series of documents with international law implications—including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation—affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. 

What’s your take on China’s impact on the UN over the past 80 years and the evolution of China’s international status and role?

Li Song: China played an active role in founding the UN and was the first to sign the UN Charter. Since the UNGA Resolution 2758 restored the lawful seat of the PRC in the UN in 1971, China, as the representative of the Global South among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, has always acted as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods.

Over the past 80 years, the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people to achieve national independence and liberation, and embarked on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Chinese Modernization has achieved extraordinary development. Today, as the world’s second-largest economy, China has become a major contributor and stabilizing anchor to the global economy and a key driving force for scientific and technological innovation. China’s development is bringing more opportunities to all countries and will make greater contributions to global prosperity, stability, and development.

At this important juncture of the 80th Anniversary, the international community is full of expectations for China’s greater role in the UN. What will China do?

Li Song: It is time for us to reflect on the history and look forward to a better future. Today, while the historical trends of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remain unchanged, the Cold War mentality, hegemonism and protectionism continue to haunt the world. The world has found itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation. The UN and global governance have come to new crossroads.

President Xi Jinping has successively put forth the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, calling on all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. On September 1st, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, he proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), further contributing China’s wisdom and presenting China’s solution to building a more just and equitable global governance system.

The core concepts of the GGI include adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions. These concepts elucidate the principles, methods and pathways that need to be followed to reform and improve global governance. The essence and substance of the GGI are in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, aiming to firmly support the UN’s central role in international affairs and encourage all countries to participate in the reform and development of the global governance system within multilateral mechanisms so that the global governance system will stay with the times and respond more effectively to contemporary challenges.

China will always be a trustworthy partner to the UN, standing firmly on the right side of history, advocating true multilateralism. We will keep deepening cooperation with the UN and its member states, and jointly shoulder the responsibility for safeguarding world peace and promoting development and prosperity. 

In last year’s interview, you said that development is the sunshine of Vienna. This year, with all those changes in the international situation and within the UN, how will you play your role in Vienna?

Li Song: For the Global South countries, development is of utmost importance. Currently, the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is severely behind schedule and the UN’s general development cause is facing even greater challenges. In Vienna, China will work with other member states to firmly support and promote international cooperation in areas such as industrial development, AI and peaceful uses benefiting the Global South, calling for correcting historical injustices and enhancing the representation of the Global South on the Board of Governors of the IAEA.

Development is impossible without peace. China actively implements the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi and supports the IAEA to play a positive and constructive role in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue and other similar issues. China firmly opposes hegemonism and bullying, strongly condemns military strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards and will continue to push forward the political and diplomatic efforts to settle the Iranian nuclear issue.

This year, the Chinese Permanent Mission held the first themed event for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Dialogue among Civilizations is a bond of peace, a momentum for development and a bridge of friendship. My colleagues and I will work actively to implement the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi, providing a spirit of fairness, justice and positive energy in a principled, responsible and constructive manner in the Vienna multilateral platform.