'Happy 55th birthday': UN officials reaffirm stance on China's UN seat

Senior United Nations officials have reaffirmed the world body's unwavering adherence to UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, as Sunday marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat at the UN.Speaking to CGTN on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiongan), Guy Ryder, UN under-secretary-general for policy, said the organization "continues to be guided by that resolution.""The United Nations upholds that resolution and will do so consistently," Ryder said.Stephen Jackson, UN resident coordinator in China, said the UN remains "firmly adherent" to the will of the General Assembly."Happy 55th birthday," Jackson said of the ties between the UN and China during an interview with CGTN.Fifty-five years ago, on October 25, 1971, the UNGA adopted Resolution 2758 at its 26th session with an overwhelming majority, deciding to restore all rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. From the perspective of international law, this resolution completely eliminated possibilities of "two Chinas" or "Taiwan independence.""That was a historic moment," Jackson said. "It brought the United Nations into line with a political and historical reality."Equally important, the resolution brought to the table, including in one of the UN's highest bodies, the Security Council, "a powerful voice" from the Global South with China's seat restored, he stressed.The adoption of the resolution was "a really determinant moment" not only for China, but also for the United Nations, Jackson said.The relationship between China and the UN has remained "very, very" close over the past 55 years, he added.The UN official expressed confidence that the incoming secretary-general – whoever is ultimately selected through the ongoing voting process – will carry forward a China-UN relationship that remains "both central and strong."Commenting on the restoration of China's lawful UN seat in 1971, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that it marked the return of the Chinese people, one-fourth of the world's population, to the UN stage.Through the UN, China works to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other countries, advocate for common security, promote shared development, foster dialogue among civilizations and advance the reform and improvement of global governance, Mao said.