I wish to thank Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, for his briefing on behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

China attaches great importance to cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. In fulfilling its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council needs the important support and cooperation of regional and subregional organizations. In particular, the Council and those organizations should make use of their advantages and complement each other in a common effort to promote international peace and security.

The OSCE is an important regional organization in Europe in terms of maintaining international peace and security. It is also an important cooperative partner of the United Nations. We commend the contributions of the OSCE to preventive diplomacy, dispute mediation, post-conflict peacebuilding and counterterrorism. We encourage the OSCE to continue to make use of its advantages and to play a positive role in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. We also support the initiatives of the United Nations and the Security Council to cooperate more pragmatically and effectively with the OSCE, on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations, in the maintenance of regional peace and security.