The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna hosted an event on Friday, November 6, 2026, to mark the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN).
Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, chaired the gathering. Li stated that the 55 years since the restoration have seen China's peaceful development, its contributions to the well-being of humanity, and the achievements of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. He further noted China's commitment to upholding the UN's role and contributing to its goals of peace and development. Li said China is ready to work with all parties to use Vienna's strengths as a multilateral platform to support and revitalize the UN and build a community with a shared future for humanity.
The event was attended by nearly 200 participants, including diplomats, scholars, and heads of international organizations. Monica Juma, director-general of the UN Office at Vienna, presented Li with a copy of a draft telegram sent by then UN Secretary-General U Thant to the Chinese side in October 1971. This telegram informed China of the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Juma stated that the restoration of China's seat significantly enhanced the voice of developing countries and strengthened the UN's universal representativeness, calling it an important step in upholding the UN Charter.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), described Resolution 2758 as a milestone that filled an important gap in the UN system. He stated the IAEA is ready to work with China on the global revival of nuclear energy and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Gerd Mueller, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), noted China's contributions to global development, industrialization, and poverty reduction. He mentioned that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative and expressed UNIDO's desire to deepen its partnership with China.
Representatives from dozens of countries and think tank scholars spoke at the event to reflect on the 55-year journey. They reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle and expressed readiness to work with China to uphold multilateralism and advance the UN's work. Guests also viewed historical footage of the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopting Resolution 2758.
