Mr. President,

This year, a very few countries have once again raised the so-called "question of the representation of Taiwan in the United Nations" The purpose of such act is to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in this Organization. It is not only a gross violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter but also a brazen challenge to the one-China principle widely recognized by the international community. The Chinese Government strongly condemns such flagrant interference in China's internal affairs and resolutely opposes the inclusion of item 166 of the draft agenda in the agenda of the 58th session of the General Assembly. In my letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan dated 7 August this year, I stated, in a comprehensive manner, the principled position of the Chinese Government on this question. I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate the following points:

1. There is but one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan are part of that one and same China, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division. Both the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation have reaffirmed in unequivocal terms China's sovereignty over Taiwan as a matter of international law. To date, more than 160 countries in the world have diplomatic relations with China and they all recognize the one-China principle. It is an objectivity that cannot be changed by anybody.

2. As early as in 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758 (XXVI), which has solved, in political, legal and procedural terms, the issue of China's representation in the United Nations. There is simply no such issue as the so-called "Taiwan's representation in the United Nations". Ever since the day when the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China were restored at the UN, the Chinese Government has attached great importance to and worked to ensure the participation and enjoyment of the benefit of activities of the United Nations and its specialized agencies by all Chinese including, naturally, our compatriots in Taiwan.

3. The United Nations is an inter-governmental organization composed of sovereign states. No sovereign state in the world would allow one of its provinces or regions to participate in the United Nations, an organization whose membership requires statehood. As a part of China, Taiwan is not eligible to participate, in whatever name and under whatever pretext, in the United Nations or its specialized agencies. The General Committee of each and every session of the General Assembly since 1993 has flatly rejected the inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly of the so-called issue of Taiwan's "participation" in the United Nations. This fully demonstrates that to raise this issue in whatever form in the United Nations will fail to receive support from the vast number of UN Member States.

4. The question of Taiwan is purely an internal matter of China. An early solution to the Taiwan question and realization of complete reunification of the motherland is in the fundamental interest of the entire Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots and reflects the shared aspiration of all Chinese both at home and abroad. Mr. Deng Xiaoping came up with the creative concept of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" which has become a basic state policy of China. Mr. Jiang Zemin has also put forward the "Eight-point Proposition on the Development of Cross-Straits Relations and the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland". Adherence to the one-China principle is the basis for the development of cross-straits relations and the realization of peaceful reunification. "one country, two systems" has been implemented successfully both in Hong Kong and Macao, and it is also the best way for the reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. The Chinese Central Government has stated clearly on many occasions that after its reunification with the mainland, Taiwan may keep its existing social system unchanged and enjoy a high degree of autonomy. Our Taiwan compatriots may keep their way of life unchanged, and their vital interests will be fully guaranteed. They will enjoy a lasting peace. Taiwan may then truly rely on the mainland as its hinterland for economic growth and thus get broad space for development. Our Taiwan compatriots may join the people on the mainland in exercising the right to administer the country and sharing the dignity and honor of the great motherland in the international community. Personages of Taiwan may also, as part of the Chinese delegation, participate in activities of relevant international organizations and international conferences. The Chinese Government will continue to work for the peaceful solution of the Taiwan question on the basis of the one-China principle.

5. Respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of a country are important principles of the Charter of the United Nations always cherished by all countries in the world. We appreciate the just position adopted by the vast number of UN Member States in abiding by the one-China principle. We believe that the General Committee of the 58th session the General Assembly will, as in the past, refuse once again to include the so-called "question of Taiwan" representation in the United Nations in the agenda of the General Assembly session.

Thank you, Mr. President.