On 20 August 2019, the UN Security Council held a high-level debate on challenges to peace and security in the Middle East. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, attended the meeting and stated China's position.

Ambassador Zhang said that peace and security in the Middle East bears on not only the fundamental interests of countries in the region, but also global stability and development. China closely follows peace and security in the Middle East, upholds an objective and impartial position, and advocates a new security concept featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in an effort to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Zhang emphasized that the international community should work harder to seek political settlement of regional hotspot issues, support the United Nations in playing a central role in good offices, promote dialogue and negotiation, commit to manage the situation constructively and take into account the legitimate rights and interests of all parties. The sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the countries concerned should be respected. China is firmly opposed to the willful use or threat of force, external interference, power politics and bullying. The issue of Palestine is at the core of the Middle East issue. It is the root problem in the Middle East. Upholding legitimate rights of the Palestinian people is the common responsibility of the international community.

Zhang said that the international community should assist countries in the Middle East in achieving sustainable development. The international community should be open-minded and support regional countries in exploring development paths suited to their national conditions and building mutually beneficial and win-win partnerships to achieve economic and social progress. Concerted efforts should be made to tackle the threat of terrorism. The international community should consolidate consensus, follow uniform standards, take a holistic approach, and address both the symptoms and root causes of problems in fighting terrorist and extremist forces. Efforts must be made to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, uphold the JCPOA and ensure its full and effective implementation. The parties should bear in mind the larger picture and take a long-term perspective, stick to the general direction of political and diplomatic solution, ensure the balance of rights and obligations under the JCPOA, and facilitate deescalation of tensions on the Iranian nuclear issue to maintain stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

Zhang said that addressing challenges in the Middle East goes beyond the power of one country. The United Nations should deepen cooperation with regional and subregional organizations such as the Arab League, and consolidate and strengthen collective security mechanism. China supports countries in the region in developing good neighborly relations on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference of internal affairs. The parties should commit to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation, help deescalate tensions, and maintain regional security and international energy security to avoid triggering new crises. China welcomes any dialogue initiative that will contribute to peace and security in the Middle East.

Zhang said that China is committed to peace and stability in the Middle East. China maintains close communication with relevant countries and plays an active and constructive role in advancing political settlement of hot spot issues in the Middle East. China is actively engaged in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, and provides substantial humanitarian assistance to refugees of relevant countries. China take an active part in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue and upholds the JCPOA. China takes the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and complementarity with countries in the region and provide opportunities and platform for development in the Middle East. China will continue to make unremitting efforts for lasting security and prosperity in the Middle East.