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A responsible China(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-21 07:55 President Hu Jintao is scheduled to attend a series of summits at the United Nations and the meeting of the G20 leaders at Pittsburgh. On his second attendance at the United Nations, the top Chinese leader is expected to voice Beijing's standpoint on issues ranging from climate change to nuclear non-proliferation and reduction of nuclear weapons. At the G20 Summit, the third since the global financial meltdown a year ago, he will elaborate China's view on how to sustain global economic recovery, speed up reforms in international financial systems and explore a road map to bridge the developmental divide between the rich and poor nations. All the statements Hu makes would be representing the voice of New China, which celebrates its 60th birthday in 10 days.
The largest developing country and the third largest economy in the world, China has undergone tremendous changes over the past 30-plus years. People may still remember the Sixth Special United Nations Conference held in 1974, when the then Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping became the first Chinese leader to address the United Nations. He expounded how China viewed the world order and pursued its relations with the outside world. Still little known to most Westerners, Deng talked on late Chairman Mao Zedong's theory of the three worlds, in which China was a member of the Third World. He also pledged that China would never seek hegemony. While Deng received warm responses from representatives of many countries, Western analysts seemed a little indifferent. A news analysis written by Joseph Lelyveld, then a senior journalist who would become the executive director of the New York Times two decades later, was entitled "China shows UN modest face". Today, international politicians and academics still differ in their expectations of how much of a role China can play in world affairs. There are also blame games, with some pointing fingers at China for, among others, its greenhouse gas emissions, its trade balance, its economic structure and its overseas investment. Whatever these may be, Hu will showcase that China takes its global responsibilities seriously. In the past few years while adhering to the Scientific Outlook on Development Hu promotes, China has been working towards rigorous targets - which it had set for itself - to promote clean energy, push for energy efficiency and cut greenhouse emissions. Although it has suffered tremendous losses from the global economic crisis, China has introduced one of the most ambitious stimulus plans in the world, and signs of economic recovery are getting brighter. Above all, Hu will underscore that finger-pointing cannot resolve the vital issues that now pose grave challenges for the well being of human society and the future of our planet. Cooperation, coordination and the will to take on responsibilities and enforce reforms are some of the keys to reaching consensus on actions that must be taken to combat global warming, maintain world peace and ensure sustainability of the world's economic recovery. Europe views itself as the world leader and wants to limit climate change to 2 C above pre-industrial levels by 2050. It has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, and to raise this to 30 percent if there is agreement at Copenhagen.
In the past few years while adhering to the Scientific Outlook on Development Hu promotes, China has been working towards rigorous targets - which it had set for itself - to promote clean energy, push for energy efficiency and cut greenhouse emissions.
I hope China will categorically outline her stance on vital international issues. I would be totally disappointed if deliberations after this UN summits turn out to be "the same old wine in old cups."
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