On this day 65 years ago, on December 14, 1960 (October 26, 1960 lunar calendar), the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. On December 14, 1960, the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly concluded the discussion on the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples proposed by the Soviet Union. This discussion began on November 28. During the course of the meeting, the Soviet government proposed a draft declaration calling for the immediate granting of complete independence and freedom to all colonial countries, trust territories and other Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with the freely expressed will and wishes of the people. The draft provides for the complete elimination of the colonial system and various institutions of colonial domination, the abolition of all colonial strongholds such as territories and leases on the territory of other countries, and calls on all governments to strictly observe the principles of equality and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries at all times in international relations. Forty-three Asian and African countries (originally 25 countries, later increased to 43 countries) have also proposed a draft declaration recommending immediate measures to grant people's power to trust and non-self-governing territories or some other territories that have not yet achieved independence. This draft declaration contains a series of principled arguments in the Soviet draft. The draft also states that any attempt to undermine national unity and the territorial integrity of the country will not be tolerated. The Soviet Union proposed amendments to the draft declaration of 43 Asian and African countries, stipulating that the deadline for granting independence to colonial peoples was not later than the end of 1961, and that the implementation of this resolution should be discussed at the sixteenth session of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly first voted in sections on the Soviet Union's draft declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. The substantive part of the declaration was rejected by a margin of 3 votes (35 votes to 32, with 30 abstentions). This part was voted in favor of by socialist countries and most Asian and African countries. The votes against were mainly Western countries. 25 delegations voted in favor of other parts of the Soviet Union's draft declaration, 43 delegations opposed, and 29 delegations abstained. The Soviet Union's amendment to the Asian-African proposal was then voted on, and the Soviet Union's amendment was not adopted. The draft declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples proposed by the Asian and African countries was adopted by 90 votes in favour, with only a few delegations abstaining, namely the United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Australia, Spain, Portugal, the Commonwealth of South Africa and Dominica. Summing up the discussion on ending colonialism, the representative of the Soviet Union, Zorin, pointed out that, with the exception of a small number of colonialist countries and their minions, the vast majority of delegates condemned colonialism and demanded its complete and immediate elimination. He said that the overwhelming majority of countries supported the basic principles contained in the draft Soviet declaration and reflected in the declaration adopted by the General Assembly, which satisfied the Soviet delegation.