Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol.63/No.42 i Beijing Review

Though 75 years have elapsed, the aspiration and founding mission of the United Nations—world peace and development—must not change. We recognize and commend the UN for its contributions to the cause of peace and development. It has set up an international order and system centered on the purposes and principles laid down in its charter, established a collective security mechanism, and advanced peaceful settlement of disputes. Many regional conflicts have been brought under control, and the world as a whole has maintained peace and stability. Also, the UN adheres to the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal, and strives to carry forward the spirit of democracy. Taking development as its goal and following the trend of economic globalization, the world body has mobilized global resources and implemented…

Beijing Review: What is going to be the focus of development in the post-novel coronavirus pandemic period? Beate Trankmann: The world that emerges post-novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be very different and how we respond and adapt during this period will impact the future direction of our planet. As such, it is absolutely essential that we take advantage of this moment to reemphasize the growing urgency of shifting to a low-carbon economy. The costs of ignoring the rules of climate science were laid bare by COVID-19. A warming climate damages the natural environment, shrinking wildlife habitats and forcing animals and humans into closer contact. This makes it more likely that viruses will jump across species. If climate change increases, the risk of future pandemics increases with it. As we recover…

The recent speeches by world leaders to the UN General Assembly were by in large notable for three reasons. First, most countries acknowledged the 75th anniversary of the international organization, praising its good work while recognizing the need for reforms. Second, most also expressed a commitment to multilateralism in global affairs, citing the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a compelling justification for international cooperation. Third, the U.S. administration, however, as expressed by President Donald Trump himself, used the venue to denigrate the organization and attack China in particular. In a typical U.S. presidential election year one can expect normal niceties and diplomacy to be sacrificed for whatever wedge issue candidates are using to shave votes from each other given perpetually tight races and polarization. U.S. presidents are most…

YOUNGEST WINNER OF XPLORER PRIZE 2020 Huang Qianqian, a 30-year-old assistant professor at the Department of Microelectronics, Peking University, has become the youngest winner of the Xplorer Prize, an annual public-interest award that recognizes inspirational Chinese scientists younger than 45 working full-time. Huang, a PhD, spent over nine years researching microelectronics and solid-state electronics. In 2017, she became a doctoral supervisor at Peking University. Two years later, she was named in the 30 Under 30 China list by Forbes, highlighting 30 high-achievers under 30 in different fields. The Xplorer Prize was instituted in 2018 by Tencent CEO Pony Ma, Professor Rao Yi of Peking University, and other scientists. Tencent Foundation provides 3 million yuan ($439,800) to each award-winner in five years. Boosting New Consumption People.com.cn September 23 The General Office…

Beijing Review: How do you evaluate the UN’s work in the past 75 years? Jean-Pierre Raffarin: The UN, established in the wake of World War II, was the splendid manifestation of an exceptional will for peace. The supreme body for dialogue among all nations, it has enabled the longest period of peace in modern history. The UN Security Council, peacekeeping operations… there have been many peace initiatives during this period. However, the world has changed a lot since its establishment 75 years ago. Africa is no longer the same, Asia has changed, the rules and the balance of power continue to change. To save multilateralism, the UN must reform and adapt to the new world situation. How do you view the importance of the UN, the World Health Organization (WHO)…

As the 75th anniversary of the UN, perhaps this is as good a time as any to discuss the United States’ role in the organization—particularly in light of President Donald Trump and his administration’s efforts to de-emphasize multilateral relations and global governance mechanisms. The U.S. played a pivotal part in the founding of the UN in 1945. Much of the world’s rules-based structure for international law, regional security arrangements, trade agreements, immigration rules and cultural exchanges has been profoundly influenced by the U.S. For decades, the U.S. has provided one of the largest financial contributions to the UN’s overall budget. It hosts the UN headquarters in New York City and sits as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. While they have had many disagreements over the past decades,…

Live-streaming, real-time app push notifications, video meetings… under the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), both media outlets and technology developers have gained a deeper awareness of the new ways people are acquiring and exchanging information. At a forum last month, leading media providers and tech firms in China underlined the importance of further cooperation to cope with the changes taking place in the two industries. Experts and representatives from the industries and the government shared their insights on media-tech integration during the two-day 2020 China Internet Media Forum held in Shanghai. During the COVID-19 epidemic, media outlets in China acted rapidly to provide information, offering access to real-time COVID-19 dashboards, sending health tips via mobile phones, and sharing stories of those fighting COVID-19 on the frontline via live-streaming…

In 1945, after two world wars, most countries were in ruins and the survivors craved an end to the dark days of pain, hunger and humiliation. The UN was founded to address these challenges and for three quarters of a century, the world in general has been free from the scourge of war. More countries have gained national independence and economic prosperity, and more than 1 billion people have emerged from poverty. The vision of the founders of the UN has become a reality. However, on September 21, when the 193-member world body commemorated its 75th anniversary, the celebrations were muted. Nobody felt cheerful and no place was safe for gathering together or shaking hands. Three kinds of rampant viruses stood in the way. First, the novel coronavirus. The severe…

Editor’s Note: Given the sheer magnitude of the UN’s mission, it is a tall order to present a panoramic review of the world body’s journey over the past 75 years. In this issue, we therefore focus on a few aspects of the UN’s work through the eyes of officials and academics. We hope their insights into issues that remain pertinent even today will inspire and inform more deliberations on the UN’s evolving role and the enduring value of the fundamental principles it upholds. The importance of the development of societies gained global attention in the aftermath of World War II. The need for economic recovery and the birth of many nations as a result of decolonization emerged as cornerstone issues that would guide succeeding deliberations at the United Nations. As…

Admired by many and reviled by others, the United Nations has had a bumpy ride over the past three quarters of a century. With both advantages and limitations, no one can deny that the UN has evolved into the most representative, authoritative and full-fledged cooperation platform that is the centerpiece of global governance and the international system. It has made indelible contributions to maintaining world peace and promoting sustainable development and made possible the wide acceptance of a peoplecentered philosophy, and a broad consensus on the need for mutually beneficial cooperation. It has driven home that in an era of intertwined traditional and non-traditional security threats with interconnected interests of all countries, the world is increasingly an indivisible community with a shared future. Building a stronger UN Now the world…

The 2030 Agenda Issue No.42, October 15, 2015 The 70th anniversary of the UN was one for the history books. At the UN Sustainable Development Summit on September 25, 2015, UN members adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. Beijing Review’s cover story was on this, highlighting the urgency of the SDGs and how to achieve them. Lawful Seat Restored Issue No.44, October 29, 1971 On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution to restore all lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the UN after an overwhelming majority of votes in its favor.…

($1=6.9 yuan) China’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) China’s Non-Manufacturing PMI China’s Comprehensive PMI The Business Climate Index, an indicator of entrepreneurs’ sentiment toward the overall operating conditions of their enterprises, came in at 49.4 percent in Q3, according to a central bank report. The reading was up 6.6 percentage points from the previous quarter, though 4 percentage points lower than the level in the same period last year. In H1, China’s securities market saw net inflows of overseas funds totaling $64.3 billion, up 4 percent year on year. Overseas holdings of Chinese securities have seen a steady increase in the past few years as the country rolled out measures to broaden capital market access. China’s current account surplus reached $110.2 billion in Q2, as compared with a deficit of…