China to set up $1 billion fund to aid UN

By Mustafa Caglayan

NEW YORK / BEIJING

China will establish a $1 billion fund over the next decade to support United Nations efforts to achieve global peace and development, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told the U.N. General Assembly.

Xi said at the 70th session of the Assembly that Beijing would play a more active role in U.N. peace operations and set up a permanent peacekeeping police squad, as well as build a standby force of 8,000 troops.

"China will continue to participate in building world peace. We are committed to peaceful development," Xi said.

"No matter how the international landscape may evolve and how strong it may become, China will never pursue hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence."

He also announced that China would provide a total of $100 million of free military assistance to the African Union in the coming five years to support the establishment of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis.

"We will continue to uphold the international order and system underpinned by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter," he said.

"China will continue to stand together with other developing countries. We firmly support a greater representation and say for developing countries, especially African countries, in the international governance system. China's vote in the U.N. will always belong to the developing countries."

Xi also announced several proposals to help underdeveloped countries, saying his country would provide $2 billion to support South-South cooperation.

The China Daily reported Xi as saying that the country would invite 30,000 women from developing countries to take part in training programs in China, and make a donation worth $10 million to the U.N. women's group.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Satuk Bugra Kutlugun contributed to this story from Ankara.