Mr. Chairman,

At the just-concluded general debate of the General Assembly, many Member States shared the view that measures should be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.  This is a task of extreme importance and urgency and calls for a political will to fulfill it from all of us.  We hope that our discussions today will be conducive to achieving the expected results.  

In recent years, UN peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building activities have become increasingly intertwined with each other.  It is therefore crucial to continue to attach due importance to the question as to how to better coordinate our work in this aspect at all stages and formulate a feasible "Exit Strategy".  In planning peacekeeping operations, we should be very clear about the priorities at various stages. We should have good coordination and cooperation with the host country, and encourage its government and people to play a leading role in the process.  At the same time, the capacity and initiative of Member States and relevant regional organizations should be fully tapped to enable them to work hand in hand with the United Nations.  Since last year, the United Nations has had very good cooperation with relevant regional organizations and arrangements in West Africa and Central Africa.  We should draw upon these good experiences and spread them.

Additionally, it needs to be reemphasized that as the intergovernmental organization bearing the important responsibility for maintaining international peace and stability, the United Nations should give equal importance to conflicts in all regions.  Otherwise, not only will the impartiality and neutrality of the United Nations suffer but also it will undermine efforts to solve conflicts effectively. This is a reality that the Security Council should face up to in peacekeeping decisions-making.

Mr. Chairman,

The success of UN peacekeeping operations largely depends on the sufficient political support and contribution of resources from Member States.  Therefore, it is essential to strengthen communication and coordination among the Security Council, the troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and the Secretariat. More attention should be devoted to the views of the TCCs and parties concerned.  Security Council Resolution 1353 has made detailed provisions as to how to improve the meeting of TCCs.  Their implementation needs the joint efforts of Council members and all TCCs.  We also hold it that to strengthen cooperation with the TCCs, much of the unused potentials of the existing mechanisms of the Security Council need to be explored.  The Security Council Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations, with both clearly-provided mandate and appropriate expertise, can well serve as a mechanism of communication and interaction with the TCCs.

Mr. Chairman,

China actively supports the DPKO to reform so as to fully utilize its potentiality and effectiveness.  So far the first phase of the DPKO's expansion has almost been concluded.  We will watch closely the results of its institutional readjustment made during this stage.  We have also noticed that the Secretary-General will continue to submit reports regarding the creation of new posts in the DPKO.  We look forward to reviewing this issue at an early date.  At the same time, we also hope that in the recruiting process for new posts in the Secretariat, there can be more transparency and that the principles of equitable geographical distribution and balance between developing countries and developed countries will be faithfully observed.  Most importantly, special attention should be paid to the concerns of countries that are underrepresented in some departments.  In this regard, what the Secretariat has done is far from enough and we hope it can do a better job in the days yet to come.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.