Helping 800 Million People Escape Poverty Was Greatest Such Effort in History, Says Secretary-General, on Seventieth Anniversary of China’s Founding

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the exhibition on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in New York today:

It is a pleasure to be with you to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.  I congratulate the people and Government of China on your impressive achievements over the past seven decades.

Every time I visit China, I am stunned by the speed of change and progress.  You have created one of the most dynamic economies in the world, while helping more than 800 million people to lift themselves out of poverty — the greatest anti-poverty achievement in history.  China saw transformational results in accomplishing the vision of the Millennium Development Goals.  You reduced infant and maternal mortality rates, improved nutrition, reduced stunting and halved the proportion of the population without access to safe drinking water and sanitation.  China has built one of the world’s best-performing education systems, which attracts international students from all over the world.  I congratulate you on all these achievements.

This year also marks the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations presence in China.  Over the past four decades, China has been a key participant in our work as a pillar of international cooperation and multilateralism.  After leading the way on the Millennium Development Goals, China is now actively implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  China has been a steady partner in ensuring that the United Nations can carry out its activities, as the second‑largest contributor to both the regular and peacekeeping budgets.  And China contributes troops to eight peacekeeping missions, including more than 1,000 Blue Helmets serving under the United Nations flag in South Sudan.

As we approach the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, we need a renewed global partnership to support multilateral solutions to global crises.  I count on China’s continued commitment and engagement as we build a better world for all.

Congratulations again on this anniversary, and I wish the People’s Republic of China many more successes in the years and decades to come.  Thank you.