The United Nations is without doubt the only organization that represents the interests of the entire world and being a member is essential for a country's credibility. That's why when South Sudan became independent recently, the new nation's first move was to join the UN, becoming the 193rd country to attain membership.

"As the largest and most important [global] organization, the United Nations means legality and justice and its decisions are mostly accepted by countries around the world," Chen Xulong, Deputy Director of the Department of Global Strategy of China Institute of International Studies, told ChinAfrica, adding that for this reason, the UN should play a leading role in solving pressing international issues. This October China celebrates 40th anniversary of restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, an organization Chen said should be at the heart of dealing with international affairs, especially in solving important security issues and regional conflicts.

Returning to the fold

China is one of the founding countries of the United Nations and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council with veto power. However, owing to historical reasons, the Taiwan authority occupied China's seat in the United Nations for 20 years. In October 1971, supported by the developing countries, the 26th UN Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, returning the lawful seat to Beijing.

In the past 40 years the UN membership has greatly expanded China's diplomatic stage and international exchanges. "In that time China has been gradually integrating itself into the international order, which has the UN as its core, and become a participant, builder and a reformer of the international order," said Chen, adding that currently, China is actively promoting reforms within the United Nations.

More vocal

Fu Ying, Vice Foreign Minister of China, also believes the UN needs to be reformed due to the world changes over the more than 60 years after the world body was established. The UN has in fact been active with its own reforms. One example of this is the peacekeeping division. At the time it was founded, the UN did not have a peacekeeping arm, which today forms a vital part of its operations worldwide.

"While reforming the United Nations, we think developing countries should have greater say on this issue," said Fu in an interview with France-based Le Figaro.

On many international issues, developed and developing countries hold different views in the United Nations and developing countries are usually at a disadvantage when it comes to being heard.

According to Chen, Western powers usually take advantage of their offensive positions and interfere in the internal affairs of developing countries. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is against this practice. "They [developed countries] are actually seeking their own interests [while interfering into developing countries] under various excuses," said Chen. "Have you ever heard of any developing countries interfering in the internal affairs of developed ones?"

At the speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of China's restoration of its lawful seat in the UN, Wu Hailong, Assistant Foreign Minister, said that the UN should increase the representativeness of developing countries, especially African countries, in the reform.

"Because of the great roles played by the developing countries during the process of restoring China's seat in the UN and the fact that China itself is a developing country, it is natural that China always supports developing countries in the world body," said Chen.