China’s official stance on international issues including terrorism and cybersecurity was presented in a paper on Monday, prompting wide speculation that it is in connection to President Xi Jinping’s upcoming speech at a United Nations (UN) summit following his first state visit to the U.S.
The paper, which was released to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the U.N. on Sept. 24, fully states China’s position and proposals on significant issues to be discussed in a series of upcoming U.N. summits, including those in peacekeeping, public health and security, education, climate change and human rights, according to a report from the Beijing-based Global Times newspaper.
"We must reject double standard [sic] and not link terrorism with any particular country, ethnicity or religion," the paper stated. It also touched the issue of cybersecurity, saying that “China is in favor of stronger international cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and the establishment of a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace."
The paper also emphasized the need for stronger international rules “under the aegis of the U.N.” and to develop a transparent multi-lateral mechanism for governing the Internet.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times that the position paper will be closely linked to President Xi’s speech at the U.N. on Monday.
“The international community is keen to know China's views on the present global order,” he said.
Xi will visit the U.N. headquarters in New York from Sept. 26-28 to attend a series of summits commemorating the 70th founding anniversary of the United Nations at the invitation of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Lu Kang, a spokesman from the foreign ministry told the media in the past week.
Both Xi’s speech and the position paper will reflect China’s persective and stance on global peace, development and cooperation, Zhang Yansheng, director of the Institute for International Economics Research, said in an interview with the Global Times on Monday.
"China doesn't want to challenge any country, but we do want to live in a world with peace, development and cooperation," Zhang added.