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Statement by Mr. SHI Xiaobin, Chinese Delegate at the 2017 Session of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization

2017-02-21 06:16

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese delegation congratulates you on your election to the chairmanship of this session of the Special Committee. Our congratulations also go to members of the Bureau. I believe under your leadership, this session will be crowned with success.

Mr. Chairman,

The Charter of the United Nations establishes the basic principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, whereby an international order of multilateralism with the United Nations at the core was created. China has always been a staunch defender of the purposes and principles of the Charter.

The Special Committee is a standing forum for deliberations on the Charter and a strengthened role for the United Nations within the framework of the United Nations. It has produced useful outcomes in the past. China attaches great importance to the work of the Special Committee, and appreciates the efforts of member states in the spirit of constructive cooperation to advance the work of the Special Committee by consensus at its 2016 session. China is ready to participate actively in the work of the Special Committee and promote the effective performance of its functions in order to achieve outcomes that serve the common good of the international community.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to the NAM proposal on the pacific settlement of disputes and its impact on the maintenance of peace, China would like to actively participate in the discussions thereof. The Chinese Government has been actively advocating peaceful settlement of disputes. It is our position that parties to any international dispute should properly settle their dispute through peaceful means such as negotiation, dialogue and consultation to maintain international peace and security. The principle of sovereign equality among states should be strictly observed when choosing and applying the international dispute-settlement methods. It should be based on national consent and should not impose on any country.

With regard to the working paper submitted by Ghana on strengthening the relationship and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations or arrangements in the peaceful settlement of disputes, China is ready to give it active consideration. Since the Special Committee did adopt the Declaration on the Enhancement of Cooperation Between the United Nations and Regional Arrangements or Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security back in 1994, we would like the new exercise to bring added value compared to the earlier outcome. We are of the view that the activities of regional arrangements or agencies must stay in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and that their cooperation with the UN be conducted in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Charter. These include provisions that the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and that the Security Council shall at all times be kept fully informed of activities undertaken or in contemplation under regional arrangements or by regional agencies for the maintenance of international peace and security.

With regard to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, it is China’s consistent position that sanctions be imposed only when other non-compulsive means have been exhausted, and should be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and the relevant international law. The impact of sanctions on general public and third States should be minimized.

With regard to the working paper submitted by Belarus and Russia, which proposes that the International Court of Justice be requested to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the resort to the use of force by States without prior authorization of the Security Council, except in the exercise of the right to self-defence. China sees merit in this proposal in that it helps further clarify the rules in international law that prohibit the use of force and contributes to the understanding and implementation of the UN Charter. We therefore support further consideration of this proposal by the Special Committee.

With regard to the preparation of Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, China commends the Secretariat for its hard work and the progress achieved. China is actively supportive of this effort and has been contributing to the Trust Fund on an ongoing basis. We have also been funding the Secretariat’s junior professional officer program in recent years. With a large pool of qualified Chinese universities and academic resources, China would like the Secretariat to broaden its cooperation in this process with academic institutions in countries like China, and hopes that the Repertory and Repertoire be published in all the official languages of the UN at the same time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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