Connect with us

World

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

Published

on

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

On October 25,2021, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China delivered a Speech At the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Restoration Of the Lawful Seat of the People’s Republic of China In the United Nations. The speech summarized China’s position in upholding multilateralism, elaborating China’s contributions to the UN and the world.

Indeed, as the biggest developing country and a responsible major power in the international community, China has done a lot to uphold true multilateralism and maintain peace and stability in the whole world. China has stood actively for political settlement of disputes through peaceful means. Since 1990, China has sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping operations. China is the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and an important troop contributor. China ranks first among the five permanent Security Council members in terms of the number of peacekeepers, with more than 2,200 serving in eight UN mission areas. China has set up a standby peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops and a permanent peacekeeping police force of 300 troops, making China the country with the largest number of standby peacekeeping forces and the widest range of contingents among the UN peacekeeping forces. China is now the second largest financial contributor to both the United Nations and UN peacekeeping operations.China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 141 countries and 32 international organisations, including 19 UN agencies. China is the first developing country in the world to achieve the UN poverty reduction target ahead of schedule, lifting 439 million people out of poverty from 1990 to 2011. Since 2021, China has provided more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines to 106 countries and four international organisations, ranking first in the world.

China has resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations, and work together to practice true multilateralism. In September this year, at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a Global Development Initiative with the hope that countries will work together to overcome impacts of COVID-19 on global development, accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build a global community of development with a shared future.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended his warm congratulations to such a day of justice, said that China’s development has brought opportunities to the whole world, thanked China for upholding multilateralism, supporting the UN’s work, and playing a major part and making significant contributions to promoting world peace and development. He also spoke highly of The Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and said that the Initiative is of significant and positive importance to promoting global equality and balancing sustainable development. The United Nations fully supports it and is willing to enhance cooperation with China in this regard.

Also Read: Troops raided IPOB camps, recovers arms and ammunitions in…

Standing at a new historical starting point, China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace. China will stay committed to the path of reform and opening-up and always be a contributor to global development. China will stay committed to the path of multilateralism and always be a defender of the international order. Nigeria, as the biggest country in terms of population and economy in the whole of Africa, could join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism, as long as the two big countries stand together, the voice of the majority of developing countries will be amplified. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China. In the future, the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China will be bound to enrich and deepen, and more and more close coordination will be achieved in the international arena.

According to the President of the People’s Republic of China, “the trend of the world, vast and mighty, prospers those who follow it and perishes those who go against it. Over the last 50 years, for all the vicissitudes in the international landscape, the world has remained stable as a whole, thanks to the concerted efforts of people of all countries. The world economy has grown rapidly, and innovation in science and technology has kept breaking new ground. A large number of developing countries have grown stronger, over a billion people have walked out of poverty, and a population of several billion are moving toward modernization.

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

In the world today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the force for peace, development and progress has continued to grow. It falls upon us to follow the prevailing trend of history, and choose cooperation over confrontation, openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games. We shall be firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.

— We should vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and work together to provide the right guiding philosophy for building a better world. Peace and development are our common cause, equity and justice our common aspiration, and democracy and freedom our common pursuit.”

He noted that the world we live in is diverse and colorful, and that diversity makes human civilization what it is, and provides a constant source of vitality and driving force for world development. As a Chinese saying goes, “Without achieving the good of one hundred various schools, the uniqueness of one individual cannot be achieved.” No civilization in the world is superior to others; every civilization is special and unique to its own region. Civilizations can achieve harmony only through communication, and can make progress only through harmonization. He posited that a country’s path of development works is judged, first and foremost, by whether it fits the country’s conditions; whether it follows the development trend of the times; whether it brings about economic growth, social advancement, better livelihoods and social stability; whether it has the people’s endorsement and support; and whether it contributes to the progressive cause of humanity.

Xi Jinping asked that: “We should jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. The human race is an integral community and Earth is our common homeland. No person or country can thrive in isolation. Humanity should overcome difficulties in solidarity and pursue common development in harmony. We should keep moving toward a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly create a better future. To build a community with a shared future for mankind is not to replace one system or civilization with another. Instead, it is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures and levels of development coming together for shared interests, shared rights and shared responsibilities in global affairs, and creating the greatest synergy for building a better world.

“We should stay committed to mutual benefit and win-win results, and work together to promote economic and social development for the greater benefit of our people. As ancient Chinese observed, “The essence of governance is livelihood; and the essence of livelihood is adequacy. Development and happy lives are the common aspirations of people in all countries. Development is meaningful only when it is for the people’s interest, and can sustain only when it is motivated by the people. Countries should put their people front and center, and strive to realize development with a higher level of quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security. It is important to resolve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and make development more balanced, coordinated and inclusive. It is also important to strengthen the people’s capacity for development, foster a development environment where everyone takes part and has a share, and create a development paradigm where its outcome benefits every person in every country more directly and fairly.”

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

The China’s President asked that: “We should step up cooperation, and work together to address the various challenges and global issues facing humanity. The international community is confronted by regional disputes as well as global issues such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity. Only with more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral mechanisms and more active regional cooperation, can these issues be addressed effectively. Climate change is Nature’s alarm bell to humanity. Countries need to take concrete actions to protect Mother Nature. We need to encourage green recovery, green production and green consumption, promote a civilized and healthy lifestyle, foster harmony between man and Nature, and let a sound ecology and environment be the inexhaustible source of sustainable development.

“We should resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations, and work together to practice true multilateralism. Building a community with a shared future for mankind requires a strong United Nations and reform and development of the global governance system. Countries should uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. International rules can only be made by the 193 UN Member States together, and not decided by individual countries or blocs of countries. International rules should be observed by the 193 UN Member States, and there is and should be no exception. Countries should respect the United Nations, take good care of the UN family, refrain from exploiting the Organisation, still less abandoning it at one’s will, and make sure that the United Nations plays an even more positive role in advancing humanity’s noble cause of peace and development. China will be happy to work with all countries under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to explore new ideas and new models of cooperation and keep enriching the practice of multilateralism under new circumstances.”

The PRC occupying its rightful seat at the UN not only represented a victory for the Chinese people, but also a vindication of the choice of all the “peace-loving countries in the world that stood up for justice”, as President Xi Jinping said in a speech to mark the occasion on Monday. And over the past 50 years, the country has demonstrated the prescience of Resolution 2758 in identifying it as an essential protector of the UN, its principles and cause.

Over that period, through much hard work, the Chinese people have attained the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, eradicating absolute poverty in the process, and are now embarking on the journey to build a modern socialist country.

Also Read: NSCDC says 2 Officers killed by Bandits in Zamfara

Throughout this endeavor to rejuvenate the nation, China has unswervingly followed an independent foreign policy of peace, stood firmly on the side of fairness and justice, and resolutely opposed hegemony and power politics, faithfully fulfilling its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Those countries that co-sponsored and supported Resolution 2758 can be proud of the decision they made 50 years ago. However, as President Xi said in his speech, compared with 50 years ago, the challenges the world faces today are more extensive and complicated. He called on all countries to address these challenges by choosing cooperation over confrontation, openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games, and urged them to give full play to the UN’s central role in international affairs, and stand firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.

Declaring that “Diversity makes human civilization what it is”, he once again advocated building a community with a shared future for mankind, while emphasizing that doing so does not mean replacing one system or civilization with another, but rather countries coming together to build a better world based on shared interests and responsibilities. “Climate change is nature’s alarm bell,” he stressed, and new ideas and new models of cooperation are needed to address the various challenges facing humanity.

The question facing countries today is still whether they will stand on the right side of history or not. And the trend of history is clear: We must all stand together. Failure to do so risks making humanity nothing more than a brief footnote in any cosmic annal of life on Earth.

In China, Nigeria that stood by her 50 years ago should today take lessons and see a hope for a greater nation rising from being at the precipice to achieving the dream of our forefathers of a great country. The vote for a great United China 50 years ago should not be swept under now, Nigeria and the rest of the progressive world need not withdraw their support and encourage now when Great China is on the horizon.

Time for Nigeria to join hands with China in upholding true multilateralism

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

World

China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

Published

on

China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

By: Michael Mike

Stakeholders in diplomacy, academia, and the media have dismissed the claim that China has ulterior motives in Africa, insisting that the Chinese Government has come to the continent as a friend and key development partner.

They made this point at the Media Executives Forum and Book Launch held in Abuja at the China Cultural Centre.

The event, which featured the unveiling of Balancing the Narrative: China-Africa Relations authored by seasoned diplomatic journalist Raphael Oni, brought together diplomats, media professionals, and scholars to discuss the impact and perception of China’s growing involvement in Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Oni, who recently participated in a media training programme in China, described the book as a product of his experience and research.

He said: “There is a gap in understanding China’s role in Africa. A lot of misinformation is being circulated, especially through Western media. This book is my effort to correct that.”

Oni, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Extra, a magazine dedicated to foreign affairs and diplomatic reports, pointed to China’s numerous contributions in areas such as infrastructure, education, and technology, citing projects like roads, railways, and airport construction supported by Chinese funding and expertise.

He also highlighted capacity-building programmes that send Nigerian professionals and students to China for training.

on his part, the Director, Centre for Chinese Studies in Nigeria, Mr. Charles Onunaiju, commended Oni’s work, stating that it contributes to knowledge-driven cooperation. He noted that: “There are myths surrounding China-Africa relations, but what we need is deeper understanding and accurate information.”

In his remarks, the President of the African Union of Journalists and erstwhile President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Christopher Isiguzo, urged Nigerian political leaders to emulate China’s development-driven approach. “China’s progress is rooted in long-term planning and strong national vision. We can learn a lot from that,” he said.

Diplomatic representatives from the High Commissions of Sierra Leone and Malaysia, as well as the Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, also delivered goodwill messages. They praised the book and emphasized the importance of cultural and media exchanges in building international partnerships.

Participants at the event called for greater collaboration between African and Chinese media to present more balanced narratives and foster mutual understanding. They urged African journalists to take the lead in shaping the continent’s global image by telling stories grounded in fact and experience.

The forum concluded with a consensus that China remains a reliable ally in Africa’s development journey and that dispelling misinformation through responsible journalism is essential for strengthening bilateral ties.

China has shown to be Africa’s friend, development partner, Insists Stakeholders

Continue Reading

News

6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

Published

on

6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on Thursday, declared that his vision of transforming the state, set six years ago, has now become a tangible reality.

He stated this in Gombe during a state-wide broadcast marking the sixth anniversary of his administration’s leadership in the state.

According to Yahaya, his government has achieved remarkable progress since 2019, with visible development in every region of the state serving as undeniable proof.

He noted that the transformation agenda spanned education, healthcare, the economy, roads, infrastructure, and security, among other key areas of governance and public welfare.

Yahaya noted that his administration met public expectations by delivering quality governance, making Gombe a national benchmark across various development sectors.

“When we began this journey six years ago, we promised to transform Gombe into a development model. Today, that promise has come to fruition,” he said.

He said that every corner of Gombe bears evidence of growth and change, reflecting the state’s steady advancement under his leadership.

In the health sector, Yahaya said his government revamped and equipped 114 primary health centres, recruited personnel, and revitalised healthcare delivery across the state.

On education, he emphasised a holistic, data-driven strategy that improved learning outcomes and earned praise from the Federal Ministry of Education and development partners.

“We have also overhauled Gombe’s road infrastructure, delivering over 900 kilometres of rural and urban roads to enhance accessibility and economic growth,” he said.

These projects, he added, have linked communities, boosted trade, and eased the movement of people and goods across the state.

“All township roads under this scheme feature solar-powered streetlights, improving visibility at night and enhancing local security,” Yahaya noted.

Addressing water scarcity, the governor stated that over 900 boreholes had been constructed during his tenure to improve access to clean water.

He thanked the people of Gombe for their steadfast support and vowed to consolidate on achievements during the remaining two years of his second term.

“In the next two years, we’ll enhance Gombe’s strengths in commerce, agriculture, and renewable energy,” Yahaya pledged.

He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, good governance, and youth empowerment to prepare them for a dynamic and changing world.

6th Anniversary: My promise of transforming Gombe now reality, says Gov. Yahaya

Continue Reading

News

Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

Published

on

Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police in Rivers State have arrested a serving soldier over an alleged attempted rape, theft, and assault on a police officer in Kpor Division, under Zone 16, Yenagoa.

Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Cpl. Dinebari Legudu, who claimed we was attached Special Forces, in Maiduguri, was arrested on Wednesday following a complaint by a 17-year-old female, Peace Baridor, of Bera community.

According to the police, the teenage girl reported that the suspect, whom she recently befriended on Facebook, visited her residence around 3:30 p.m. on the same day and allegedly attempted to rape her. She managed to escape and locked the suspect inside the house.

“In her absence, the suspect ransacked the home and allegedly stole N150,000 belonging to the girl’s mother before breaking out and fleeing,” the statement said.

Upon receiving the report at about 6:05 p.m., officers from the Kpor Division, acting swiftly alongside the complainant, traced and apprehended the suspect. Upon interrogation, it was revealed that he is a serving soldier currently on pass from his unit in Maiduguri.

The police also reported that the suspect resisted arrest and assaulted one of the arresting officers during the operation.

He is currently in police custody and investigation is ongoing.

Authorities said due process would be followed and the military hierarchy has been notified for necessary administrative procedures.

Soldier arrested in Rivers over attempted rape, theft, and assault on police officer

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights