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As the world's most universal, representative and authoritative international inter-governmental organization, the UN is one of the most important platforms to promote multilateral cooperation, playing an irreplaceable role in international affairs. Under the new situation, the international community widely anticipates that the UN could be more active in maintaining world peace, promoting common development and strengthening international cooperation. Therefore, stable and sustainable financial support is a major guarantee for the normal operation of the UN and its larger role.
UN member states should pay their assessed contributions timely and in full so as to ensure the normal operation of the UN and the smooth implementation of its missions. However, some countries often violate their obligations and default their UN fees deliberately, particularly the United States. As the world's premier power, the United States should naturally contribute the largest share of UN fees. After the adjustment, the United States' share for the regular budget will remain unchanged at 22 percent, still the highest in the world. But its actions of payment default and coercing the UN through such defaults often results in financial disorder.
China is a country that abides by the principles of credit and has always fulfilled its obligation to pay UN fees. The increase of China's payment share is surely a piece of good news for the fiscal outlook of the UN, especially considering that it never ties its payment to any political preconditions.
China's increased financial contribution to the UN will have a more positive influence and further allow it to promote peace, development and cooperation of the world. It is conducive to the practice of multilateralism and the UN's central role in world affairs.
Based on a report of the Fifth Committee of UN General Assembly in 2012, the ratio of financial contributions of many member of the Group of 77 and emerging economies including China to the UN will undergo a large increase in the next three years. In sharp contrast, contributions by developed countries will decline sharply. Emerging markets continue to rise collectively and lead the economic growth of the world while developed countries are mired in a slow recovery. The situation reflects the new pattern within the UN featuring the rise of developing countries and the decline of developed countries, which is starkly demonstrated by the UN payment adjustment.
The Chinese economy is expected to continue its rapid growth in the next decade. By 2020, it is very possible that China could double its 2010 GDP and per-capita income for both urban and rural residents. By then, China's capability for UN payment and its payment share would also increase.
It is estimated that the trend of China's UN payment increase will continue for quite some time in the future. If the trend continues, it would not be long before the country becomes the second largest UN contributor. It naturally follows that China will play a much greater role as a responsible global power.
The author is an associate research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies
Email us at: yanwei@bjreview.com
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