We saw changes of China's role and participation in international organizations. In the past years, its friends may be fewer than before, rather than increase. In this situation, China feels quite passive, when encounter troubles, having any grievance and need the support from its friends. Various factors lead to such situation, segmentation, self-focusing, and self-strategization. Talents and training are shortage as well.
Most noteworthy is in recent years, China's international status has greatly improved, but the proportion of its international staff represented in large international organizations remains pretty low; in particular, senior positions. According to statistics, currently among the total of employees working for the United Nations, Chinese employees account for 1.12% only, ranking in the 11th behind the Philippines, India, Russia and other countries. In contrast with China's contributions to the United Nations, which accounts for 7.921%, being the third largest contributor.
The existed criteria and models for subject classification and talent training in colleges and universities of China that is far from being capable to meet with the needs of international organizations who want versatile persons. China's higher-education institutions shall actively explore, push reform and innovation in this field. There are certain Chinese universities that have attempted to integrate the resources, broken the barriers to different schools, and speeding up the establishment of a talent-cultivating model of foreign languages combined with specific majors. For instant, the University of International Business and Economics was the first in the country to launch an experimental class of "International Organization Talent Base" in the undergraduate stage. The goal is to cultivate innovative international talents who are equipped with profound humanistic knowledge and deeply theoretical basis, as well as professional skills in international business, laws, management and languages, in addition to have strong sense of innovation and international perspective. In the postgraduate stage, Beijing Foreign Studies University undertook a pilot program of reform on China's national education system, titled as "exploring the model of training comprehensive talents for international organizations". Despite of laudable efforts, yet, many issue are still to be addressed in Chinese talent supply and its efficiency to serve international organizations. It takes time to be improvement.
In reality, international organizations select talents in accordance with the principle of regional and national distribution. China contributed a huge sum of money, and as a major world power, yet it is seriously underrepresented in the United Nations. In the past, whenever there were vacancies in UN positions, the candidates recommended by China often failed because of none of any experience related to international organizations. Chinese students are studious and good at examinations, but they have very limited visions on world affairs and few willing to work hard for that. The talent training in international organizations more underscore practical ability to solve various world problems. It requires Chinese students to attend more internship and well prepare groundwork for the opportunities in international organizations. Comparatively, there are big gaps in front of those students who are able to earn good marks but no other skills.
One more is, China's attitude towards international organizations. Only if China tackle prolems, then it thought of international organizations. Due to a handful reasons, China often stays away from international organizations, without a lot of friends around; rather hostile countries increased. Recall old times when China's United Front Work Department had played a very active role in the world, today's efforts are much less.
In the future world, the importance of international organizations even overtake that of the country. Their positions are relatively neutral, with performance more professional. Their opinions are acceptable on the media worldwide, their voices are loud and helpful. There are all kinds of international organizations, most renowned like the United Nations, UNESCO, UNHCR, and the International Telecommunication Union. Besides, there are a number of NGO organizations, large-scale international conference activities, global forums and so on. All these are within the scope of international organizations that China shall engage in and provide supports.
The experience from Switzerland are good to be learned by China.
Switzerland links with some of the UN's segments (i.e. special mission) where urgently call for staff at relatively low thresholds. Since 2005, Those empolyment become the first destination and main channel for Swiss university students to work in international organizations. The number of Swiss citizens as international volunteers greatly went up. Some scholars suggested the Chinese government also to coordinate with appropriate departments in international organizations and keep long-term liaisons with them. After that, sending excellent graduates as voluntary, these experiences are worthy to apply for job positions in international organizations later on.
In China, there does not lack attentions, financial resources and talents to participate in international organizations. However, the country does not show sufficient abilities and actions to keep coordination. The main issue is due to the state mechanism that the reform connects to policy awareness and policy attitudes.
Final Analysis Conclusion:
China could not alway wait for its "friends" only when it is suppressed by major powers. Instead, it should take actions to start coordinated process as soon as possible. That will be beneficial to gain more sincere supports and sound well in the world.
