Washington has already withdrawn twice from the agency, which “had a negative impact on his work,” according to Beijing.
China’s permanent representative to UNESCO, Yang Jin, has called on the US to promote solidarity and cooperation within the organization instead of creating confrontation and division after its reincorporation. The declaration comes after this Friday the majority of the Member States decided to adopt the Washington’s proposal to return to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in July, with 132 votes in favor10 against and 15 abstentions.
“He aim to rejoin should not be to provoke a confrontation or put resistance to the influence of a country,” Yang warned, after voting against the return of the US to the body.
The Chinese representative has also urged the US to adhere to true multilateralism, respect the sovereignty and social systems of all countries, maintain social diversity, refrain from ideological confrontation, and commit to promoting mutual understanding. and cooperation between the Member States of Unesco.
Earlier, after learning of the US intention to rejoin UNESCO, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin commented that membership of an international organization is “something to be taken seriously.” “International organizations are not parks. Countries cannot come and go as they please,” Wang said, recalling that Washington has already withdrawn twice from UNESCOwhich “had a negative impact on the work” of the body.
US Reincorporation
Washington sent a letter to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay on June 8 to propose his reinstatement to the body from July on the basis of a concrete financial planwhich includes the commitment to pay your estimated arrears.
Thus, the US will finance the equivalent of 22% of Unesco’s regular budget, according to a press release from the organization. In addition to the progressive payment of its arrears, estimated at $619 million, the US will also make voluntary contributions, starting in 2023, to finance programs, including those that support access to education in Africa and Holocaust remembrance.
“All conditions are now met for a full US return to UNESCO in July,” the statement read.
In March, John Bass, one of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s deputies, framed the decision to return to UNESCO as a necessary step in Washington’s rivalry with China for global influence.
“I would also say that if we rejoin, we will help address a critical gap in our set of tools and overall leadership abilityand they will also help us address a key opportunity gap that our absence is creating in our global competition with China.” He added that if it “gets serious about digital-age competition with China,” the US cannot “the luxury of being absent from one of the key forums for longer”, without being able to effectively promote his “vision of a free world”.
- The first time the US withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, under the Reagan Administration, alleging the organization’s mismanagement, corruption and its alleged promotion of Soviet interests. He rejoined in 2003 during the George W. Bush presidency.
- The US, under the Trump Administration, decided to withdraw from UNESCO in October 2017 after a dispute over the entry of Palestine as a Member State. The official withdrawal took place on December 31, 2018.
Source: RT
