| I. The Role of the United Nations (UN)
The international situation continues to undergo profound and complex changes. Multi-polarity and economic globalization are deepening. Peace, development and cooperation represent both the more powerful trend of the times and the stronger aspiration of the countries of the world. World economy witnesses a slow, unbalanced and multi-speed recovery. Global issues such as climate change, energy security and public health are still prominent with imbalances in development becoming even worse. Regional hotspot issues keep emerging and local disturbances crop up from time to time, making the security situation more complex and diverse. There are multiple destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the world, posing a host of new difficulties and challenges to world peace and development.
The UN, as the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, is the most important platform to practice multilateralism. Since its founding, the UN has played a significant and irreplaceable role in upholding world peace, promoting common development and facilitating international cooperation. China always values the status and role of the UN and upholds the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. China supports the UN, under the current circumstances, in further harnessing its advantages and taking effective actions to coordinate international efforts in response to global threats and challenges and continuing to play a central role in international affairs.
II. UN Reforms
China supports necessary and reasonable reforms by the UN in the light of the developments in the international situation to enhance its authority and efficiency and strengthen its capacity to cope with new threats and challenges. The reforms should lead to increased voice and greater role of developing countries in the UN affairs. Since 2005, the UN has taken a series of reform measures and achieved important outcomes. But progress thus far still falls short of the expectations of Member States. The UN reforms should be comprehensive and wide-ranging and deliver tangible results in the three major fields of security, development and human rights. Going forward, the international community should build on the existing achievements and adhere to extensive and democratic consultation as a means to push for comprehensive reform across the fields, with special attention to increasing development input so as to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on schedule for the benefit of developing countries.
Reform of the Security Council is part and parcel of the UN reforms. China supports the Security Council in enhancing its authority and efficiency and better fulfilling its responsibilities for maintaining international peace and security bestowed on it by the Charter of the United Nations through reform. The priority of the reform should be increasing the representation of developing countries, African countries in particular. It is important to continue the extensive and democratic consultation to accommodate the interests and concerns of all parties, seek a package solution and reach the broadest possible consensus. China is ready to work with all countries to ensure that the reform of the Security Council will be carried out in a way that serves the overall interests of the UN and the solidarity of its Member States.
III. Security Sector
1. UN Peacekeeping Operations
UN peacekeeping operations are an important and effective means in maintaining international peace and security. The peacekeeping operations, with an ever expanding scale and broader mandate, are facing more and more challenges. China is a strong supporter of and active participant in the UN peacekeeping operations. China supports reasonable and innovative reform of peacekeeping operations on the basis of the three principles put forward by the former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold. Such reform should prioritize strategic designing, enhance communication and coordination with the host countries, improve logistics mechanisms, optimize resource allocation and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping operations and the level of their deployment, planning and management. At the same time, the parties concerned should place greater emphasis on better coordination between peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding. China calls upon the UN to continue to enhance, as a priority, cooperation with regional organizations in peacekeeping, focusing on, in particular, the needs of African countries.
2. Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding involves the entire UN system. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), an important outcome of the UN reforms, is the first agency within the UN system entrusted with coordinating post-conflict rebuilding and has a unique status and an important role to play. China supports as always UN's leading role in post-conflict rebuilding and the efforts of the PBC and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). Going forward, the PBC should further improve its institution-building, strengthen coordination with other UN agencies, enhance partnership with the countries involved and make better use of the PBF. The General Assembly, Security Council and ECOSOC should all make good use of their respective advantages to support the work of PBC.
3. Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict
China is deeply concerned about the life and property of civilians affected and threatened by armed conflicts and urges the parties concerned to abide by the international humanitarian law and the relevant Security Council resolutions in good faith and give full protection to civilians caught up in armed conflicts.
The responsibility to protect civilians rests first with the government of the country involved under the Charter of the United Nations and the international humanitarian law. When providing assistance, the international community and external organizations should adhere to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and objectiveness, seek the consent of the recipient countries, fully respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from interfering in local political disputes or impeding the peace process.
The protection of civilians should be incorporated into the political process aimed at peaceful solution to conflict. It should also be given priority in post-conflict peace-rebuilding. Relevant UN agencies should strengthen coordination and forge synergy for this purpose.
4. Counter-Terrorism
China supports combating terrorism in all its manifestations. The international community should, when fighting against terrorism, act on the Charter of the United Nations, the international law and other universally recognized norms governing international relations and give full play to the leading and coordinating role of the UN and its Security Council.
China supports the active role of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and the General Assembly Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in coordinating counter-terrorism efforts among countries. China endorses and takes an active part in the drafting of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, and hopes all parties will continue consultation in a constructive and cooperative spirit and reach consensus at an early date.
China stands for a holistic approach that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism. By making full use of its advantages, the UN can play an active role in eliminating poverty and other root causes of terrorism, promoting dialogues between civilizations and assisting developing countries in counter-terrorism capacity building. China opposes the linkage of terrorism to certain countries, ethnic groups, religions or civilizations and is against double standards.
China, as a long-time, active participant in international cooperation against terrorism, stands ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with various parties and work for new progress in international counter-terrorism cooperation with a view to maintaining regional and international peace and stability.
5. Situation on the Korean Peninsula
The current situation on the Korean Peninsula remains complex and sensitive. A Korean Peninsula that enjoys peace, stability, progress and prosperity serves the common interests of countries in the region, China included, and the rest of the international community. China hopes that the parties concerned will adopt a long-term perspective, solve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, continue to push forward the Six-Party Talks, and work together for peace and stability on the Peninsula and lasting peace and tranquility in the region.
6. The Myanmar Issue
China hopes to see stability in Myanmar and national reconciliation through consultation between the parties in the country and a successful general election for realization of democracy and development. The Myanmar issue is, in essence, a country's internal affair. The international community should provide constructive assistance to Myanmar to create an enabling environment for a successful nationwide general election as well as gradual progress in political reconciliation, democracy and development. Imposing sanctions and exerting pressure will not help solve the issue. China supports the efforts of the good offices of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Adviser.
7. The Afghan Issue
The situation in Afghanistan concerns peace and stability in the region and beyond as well as the smooth progress of the international counter-terrorism efforts. Despite positive progress, the reconstruction process in Afghanistan still faces numerous challenges. To succeed, it requires, first and foremost, the determined efforts of the Afghan government. It also calls for strong support from the international community.
China has consistently supported and actively participated in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction. China applauds the formulation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, supports the priority programs it has identified, supports further implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the Kabul Process, and respects the leading role of the Afghan Government and people in advancing this process. We call on the international community to continue to devote attention to and make inputs in Afghanistan and intensify coordination and cooperation. China supports the UN in continuing to play a leading role in resolving the Afghan issue.
8. The Iranian Nuclear Issue
China supports upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. China is of the view that Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and at the same time obliged to fulfill relevant international obligations.
China stands for negotiated settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue. The parties concerned should step up diplomatic efforts to facilitate an early resumption of talks and work together to push for positive progress in the talks with a flexible and pragmatic attitude.
China has long been committed to encouraging dialogue for peace and will continue to play a constructive role in pushing for the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
9. The Middle East Issue
China has always supported the Middle East peace process. It is China's long-held position that the parties concerned in the Middle East issue properly solve their disputes through negotiation on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the principle of "land for peace", the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East Roadmap for Peace with the ultimate goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state and achieving normalization of relations between Israel and all Arab countries.
Peaceful negotiation is the only right way leading to a solution to the Middle East issue. We hope Palestine and Israel will remain committed to negotiation and advance the peace talks in an earnest and responsible manner. The processes between Syria and Israel and between Lebanon and Israel are important components of the Middle East peace process and deserve equal attention and commitment. China will work together with the international community for a just, comprehensive and enduring settlement of the Middle East issue.
10. The Issue of Sudan
China supports the North-South peace process in Sudan and stands for proper settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual understanding and accommodation and comprehensive implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). China notes that CPA stresses the importance of making unification attractive and no prejudging of Southern Sudan referendum results by any party. The international community should fully respect Sudan's sovereignty as well as the will and choice of the Sudanese people and ensure overall peace and stability in Sudan and the region as a whole.
China supports the political settlement of the Darfur issue and maintains that the role of the UN-AU-Sudan tripartite mechanism should be brought into full play as the main channel and the "double-track" strategy should be advanced to promote balanced progress in peacekeeping deployment and political negotiation. What is particularly important is to encourage major factions in Darfur to join the political negotiation process at an early date. At the same time, it is imperative to help Sudan improve the humanitarian and security situation and realize peace, stability and development in Darfur as soon as possible.
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