Mr. President,

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Ladsous and the three Force Commanders for their respective briefings.

United Nations peacekeeping operations, as an important means for maintaining international peace and consolidating collective security, have made important contributions to resolving conflicts and disputes and restoring and rebuilding peace. In the process, they have gained the trust and support of Member States. United Nations peacekeepers carry out their tasks in difficult, complex and dangerous conditions, overcome various difficulties to discharge their mandate and have brought peace and hope to the peoples of areas in conflict. They are the embodiment of faithfulness, dedication and sacrifice. I would like to pay tribute to the Force Commanders here today and, through them, to all United Nations peacekeeping personnel.

The current international situation is undergoing complex changes. New elements have emerged in conflict situations. The threats and challenges to international peace and security have become more diverse. In order to adapt to changing needs, United Nations peacekeeping operations have been the subject of constant reforms and adjustments. At the same time, against the backdrop of expanding operations and growing complexity in mandates, the issues of how to ensure that the mandates of peacekeeping operations are more targeted and operational, enhance the management of peacekeeping operations and ensure that their mandates achieve the expected results have become issues that we need to urgently address. In response to the briefings we have just heard, I would like to make the following four comments.

First, we must adhere to Dag Hammarskjöld’s three principles for the smooth conduct of peacekeeping operations. Deviation from or dilution of the basic peacekeeping principles will jeopardize the presumed objectivity and impartiality of peacekeeping operations and may even create a situation where the United Nations becomes a party to a conflict, hence hampering international efforts to resolve it. Peacekeeping operations, in the discharge of their mandate, should fully respect the sovereignty of the host countries, strengthen coordination with the parties concerned and work to win the trust, understanding and support of host countries.

Secondly, peacekeeping operations should create favourable conditions for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and work with and support the political process. Only through political dialogue, resolving differences through consultation and achieving national reconciliation will it be possible to effectively eliminate conflict. The success of peacekeeping operations must rely on a clear political process and a complete set of strategies on security, stability and peacebuilding. Peacekeeping operations must strictly abide by the Council’s mandate and play the role of agent and mediator in the political process and process of national reconciliation in the host country.

Thirdly, adequate resources are an important element for the effective discharge of peacekeeping operations’ mandates. The Department of Field Support should continue to improve the level of logistics services it provides to missions to enhance efficiency in the disbursement and utilization of logistical resources and to provide effective and timely support to missions. We support the idea that countries with high technical and equipment capacity should actively participate in peacekeeping operations so as to make a useful contribution to enhancing the overall capability and equipment of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Fourthly, enhancing the level of management and strengthening internal coordination are effective means to enhance the efficiency of peacekeeping operations. We support stronger communication and coordination between United Nations Headquarters and missions, on the one hand, and the various departments within a mission, on the other, so as to ensure that there is an effective system of command and control. Missions may carry out inter-mission cooperation based on their mandates and make rational use of resources and assets.

Attacks against peacekeeping operations and personnel have caused grave loss to troop-contributing countries and United Nations peacekeeping operations. The United Nations should deal with this matter as a matter of urgency and enhance measures for the protection and security of United Nations peacekeepers.

China is a firm supporter and active participant in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Chinese peacekeepers have made an important contribution to maintaining international peace and security through their own actions, from South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and from the Middle East to Cyprus. More 1,600 Chinese peacekeepers are deployed in nine mission areas in the service to peace. China is prepared to continue to support and participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations and, together with the international community, to promote the cause of peacekeeping and make a greater contribution to maintaining international peace and security.

Thank you, Mr. President.