May 17, 2025, Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, was interviewed by Global People magazine in Beijing. (Photo by Hao Yang, Global People Magazine Reporter)

“My first pair of new shoes before starting school was a gift from a Chinese shoemaker. That made me feel a deep connection to China. I never imagined that decades later, I would come to China as the UN Resident Coordinator,” Siddharth Chatterjee said with a smile during an interview with Global People magazine.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, and for Chatterjee, who has been working in China for over four years, it is an exceptionally busy time. The UN Family Day event on May 17 was perhaps one of the few moments this year when he could “catch his breath.” At the event, Chatterjee warmly accommodated every request for a photo, leading some to jokingly call him a “fan-friendly” diplomat.

Conversing with Chatterjee, Chatterjee's warmth and humor are immediately striking. Yet, beneath this lies a steadfast heart of courage, ever ready to stand firm in the pursuit of peace.

The “Terminator” of War

Chatterjee has worked in the UN system for nearly 30 years, much of it in conflict zones around the world. “One of the founding missions of the United Nations is to end the scourge of war, which is at the core of the UN Charter. We have been striving toward this goal for decades,” he emphasized during the interview.

“I’ve worked in the Balkans, Iraq, and South Sudan, where I’ve met starving children and witnessed people die from malnutrition. Facing these tragic scenes, one becomes despondent or loses hope. Yet, even in those dire circumstances, I saw people from every corner of the world come together to offer the best support they could to those suffering from the consequences of war,” he told the reporter.

One of the most profound experiences in Chatterjee’s career was leading the demobilization of thousands of child soldiers in Africa, helping them escape the horrors of war and return to school. In his view, child soldiers represent the cruelest aspect of conflict: “Children are the most vulnerable in wars and the easiest to manipulate. Some armed groups deliberately abduct children, brainwash them, and turn them into child soldiers to serve as cannon fodder on the front lines. I’ve seen children as young as seven forced to take up arms and participate in slaughter.”

2018, A former child soldier from South Sudan walks to school. Source: United Nations website

At this point, Chatterjee paused, then continued in a measured tone: “War strips people of empathy and compassion, and we must not allow this to continue. We must bring these precious qualities back to human society. This is why I strongly support China’s Global Civilization Initiative. The people of the world need more mutual understanding, more exchanges, and more compassion.”

2016: Chinese peacekeeping forces on a mission in South Sudan. Source: Xinhua News Agency

Over the past 80 years, despite numerous challenges, the UN has achieved significant milestones in promoting peace and development. Chatterjee proudly noted, “Today, the UN can provide food to millions struggling on the brink of survival and vaccinate millions of children. In almost every conflict zone and disaster area, you can find UN staff on the front lines, safeguarding human dignity.”

A Pair of “Chinese Shoes”

During the interview, Chatterjee recalled his childhood growing up near Chinatown in Kolkata, India: “Kolkata’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in the world, home to descendants of Chinese workers brought by the British to build bridges. As a child, my family often took me to eat Chinese food, and I’d curiously listen to Chinese diners chatting in Chinese at nearby tables.”

In Kolkata’s Chinatown, India, Chinese residents and locals prepare for a lion dance event. Source: CCTV News

Chatterjee’s deepest childhood memory of China revolves around a pair of “Chinese shoes.” Coming from a modest family, he had never owned a new pair of shoes until he was seven. Before starting school, his father took him shopping in Chinatown, where he spotted a pair of new shoes in a Chinese shop and couldn’t take his eyes off them. His father, knowing what he wanted, hesitated because the price was beyond their means.

The elderly shopkeeper quietly observed the scene. After a moment, he handed Chatterjee a paper bag and mysteriously said, “Open it when you get home.” Back home, Chatterjee opened the bag and was overjoyed to find the very shoes he had admired—perfectly fitting his feet!

His parents rushed back to the shop to thank the owner and insisted on paying, but the shopkeeper refused. “He said his son, who was my age, had died of cholera the previous year. Seeing me reminded him of his child, so he insisted on giving me the shoes. This seems to be a fateful experience for me. It almost means I am destined to come to China.” Chatterjee recalled.

In 2021, Chatterjee left Africa, where he had worked for many years, to become the UN Resident Coordinator in China. “Over the past four years, I’ve had the chance to visit various parts of China, engage with Chinese leaders and people, and learn about the country’s culture and traditions. Many Chinese friends now know me well, and my friendship with the Chinese people has grown stronger.”

As a policy expert, Chatterjee has a deep understanding of China’s development model: “I feel that today, when I look at China and I talk to many of the countries in the Global South, I said what China has achieved, it's not a miracle. It is about how political will, how the right public policies, and how the right partnerships were brought together. But political will is the most important.”

November 2024: Siddharth Chatterjee (front row, second from right) and Luo Zhaohui, then Director-General of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (front row, third from right), inspect Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing City. Source: Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in China

He marveled at how, in just 40 years, China lifted 800 million people out of poverty. “Since 2013, over 100 million people were lifted out of abject poverty, China produces and feeds 1/5 of the world's population with just 9% of the world's arable land. China’s green transition is also remarkable—80% of Beijing’s vehicles are now powered by new energy. My journey in China has shown me the vitality of Chinese civilization.”

What Kind of World Do We Want to Leave for Future Generations?

In Chatterjee’s view, China plays a decisive role in humanity’s pursuit of peace and development.

He noted that the world today is increasingly turbulent: “As we speak, more than 80 armed conflicts are ongoing globally. Inequality between nations is growing, and food security is becoming more fragile. In the face of these multiple crises, we must act to unite the world and address these challenges together.”

Chatterjee sees China as a positive force in promoting global unity: “In 2023, through China’s mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Beijing and restored diplomatic relations. I believe we need more such initiatives. In the future, Asian countries will play a more significant leadership role on the global stage.”

He also emphasized the importance of China-US relations: “I believe the China-US relationship is the most consequential bilateral relationship of the 21st century. Both countries are very important members of the UN Security Council. I hope they can coexist harmoniously, build more partnerships, and contribute more to human development.”

Chatterjee refuted claims of China’s “overcapacity”: “There is no overcapacity in China. I believe now is the perfect time for China to share its knowledge with the world. For example, Africa has 60% of the world's arable land. Can we work together? The Chinese government, the United Nations system, and other member states make Africa the food basket of the world. If this plan succeeds, no one in the world would go hungry.”

In September 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) met with Siddharth Chatterjee in Beijing during a visit to China. Source: Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in China

In 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the Summit of the Future to focus on global sustainable development, with strong support from China. Despite the challenges, Chatterjee remains optimistic: “I often ask myself, what kind of a world will our children be inheriting? How do we make sure that we give them a better world? When I see young people around me, I see not only today but also the future. I hope more young people will join the conversation to shape the future, so we can not only look up at the sky but also pursue the infinite possibilities of the universe.”

“Today, the world faces shared challenges like climate and environmental issues. So as a pillar of the United Nations system, China has a very important role to play, a very important leadership role to play. And I think a country like China inspires that hope,” Chatterjee confidently said.