China has intensified its engagement with the UN development pillar over the last decade, giving rise to competing narratives. On the one hand, China is said to assume a more active role of responsible shareholder and supporter of UN multilateralism. On the other hand, China is perceived as trying to expand control at the UN and re-shape its norms and structures to better reflect China’s national interests. It is against this backdrop of ambivalent interpretations that the study by IDOS researchers Max-Otto Baumann, Sebastian Haug and Silke Weinlich provides the first comprehensive and in-depth analysis of China’s growing engagement with the UN development pillar. The study surveys China’s growing, but still limited financial contributions and representation in the UN’s body of staff. Based on interviews with UN staff and diplomats, it also presents novel insights into China’s patterns of engagement with regard to policy flagship initiatives, approaches to leadership, norms and language, and alliance politics.

At the event, the authors presented the study’s key findings and policy implications for the UN, Member States and civil society experts on development.

Presenters:

• Max-Otto Baumann, Senior Researcher, IDOS
• Silke Weinlich, Senior Researcher, IDOS

Discussant:

• Sarah Cliffe, Executive Director, Center on International Cooperation, New York University

Moderator:

• Michael Bröning, Executive Director, FES New York