How China went from UN outsider to leader in 50 years
China's relationship with the U.N. has transformed greatly in five decades, according to Prof. Jia Lieying, head of China's first university-based U.N. research institute.
In the 1970s, China barely participated in U.N. activities given its painful memories of foreign invasion. However, starting in 1978, China began learning from international institutions. Now, China actively leads U.N. initiatives and shapes global agendas through the Belt and Road Initiative and the like. It's a dramatic shift from watching from the sidelines to driving the conversation.