China has taken on Presidency of the Security Council for March 2020. On 2 March, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, gave briefings to UN member states, mainstream media and the civil society on the work of the Council in March.

Ambassador Zhang said that the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The world today, as we can see, is not a peaceful place. There are all kinds of problems, old ones and new ones, traditional and non-traditional security threats. The international community expects the Security Council to play its role.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized that during its Presidency, China will act responsibly and constructively to enhance mutual trust and solidarity among Council members and strengthen communication with member states, the Secretariat, civil society and the media. China will fulfill its responsibility as the President, be responsive to the expectations of the international community, and contribute more to world peace and development. Based on the agenda, China will give priority to the following:

First, strengthening multilateralism and upholding international cooperation. The international community is facing many challenges. Unilateralism is having a strong impact on the international order, the international rule of law and the status of the UN. At the crucial moment of the 75th anniversary of the Organization, the world, more than ever before, needs multilateralism, a stronger UN and Security Council, and solidarity among member states. The 75th anniversary should be taken as an opportunity to recall the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law.

China intends to convene an open debate on 19 March with the theme of "Maintenance of international peace and security: upholding multilateralism and promoting the political settlement of disputes". All member states are invited to the meeting. The open debate aims to encourage the parties to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and the UN and to commit themselves to maintaining solidarity, advocating peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means and promoting regional and international peace and stability.

Second, focusing on Africa and supporting Africa in promoting peace and development. Peace and development of Africa concerns the stability and prosperity of the world. In recent times, terrorism and extremism are posing much greater threat to African countries. Old problems are unresolved and compounded by the flow of terrorists to Africa. It is agreed that the Council should focus more on Africa.

China firmly supports Africa's effort to maintain peace and security. It has provided tremendous support to African countries and made great effort to deepen international cooperation on Africa. The Security Council will convene a debate on "Peace and security in Africa: Countering terrorism and extremism in Africa" on 11 March. African countries are invited to make statements. It is China's hope that the debate will produce positive results, creating more synergy to help African countries strengthen information sharing and capacity building for counter-terrorism. African countries and regional organizations should be given full play in helping tackle the root causes and combat terrorism and extremism with a holistic approach to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development in Africa.

Third, tackling challenges in peacekeeping more effectively and fully leveraging the crucial role of UN peacekeeping operations. Peacekeeping operations are facing more complex and difficult conditions, which require improved capacity of troop contributing countries. Peacekeepers are under greater security threats. The "Action for Peacekeeping"(A4P) proposed by Secretary-General Guterres aims at more effective response to new challenges in an evolving situation. As a major troop contributing country and the second largest financial contributor, China has been actively engaged in peacekeeping operations and supportive of Secretary-General's initiative.

The Council will hold a debate on 24 March under the theme of "United Nations peacekeeping operations: Better capacity building, more safety and security" and invite troop/police contributing countries to make statements. China will work with other parties to galvanize more attention to UN peacekeeping and Secretary-General's A4P initiative. There should be more input to peacekeeping operations and concrete actions to help troop/police contributing countries strengthen capacity building and ensure the safety and security of frontline peacekeepers.

Fourth, promoting political settlement of regional hot issues and maintaining international fairness and justice. This month, the Security Council will discuss hotspot issues such as Syria, Libya, Palestine, South Sudan and Yemen. Relevant parties are working hard for the settlement of these issues. But conflicts and tensions are still escalating from time to time, posing threat to peace and stability of the region and beyond. Under such circumstances, the international community expects the Council to play a bigger role.

China upholds objective and just positions on regional hot issues and plays a responsible and constructive role in working towards dialogue for peace. China will work with other Council members to urge relevant parties to increase dialogue and consultation, resolve disputes peacefully and make every effort to achieve progress in seeking political settlement.

Fifth, upholding impartiality, transparency, efficiency and a pragmatic approach and ensuring the positive role of the Council. China will carefully heed the views and recommendations of Council members, the countries concerned and relevant international and regional organizations and help strengthen communication and collaboration between the Council and the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Secretariat. China will see to it that the briefings be as focused and updated as possible and the briefers and member states be on time and observe the time limits, with a view to improving the working method of the Security Council.

Ambassador Zhang said that China will earnestly fulfill its responsibility as President of the Council, contributing wisdom in its own way and doing its part for strengthening the Council and maintaining international peace and security. China will count on the support of other Council members, UN member states, civil society and the media for the success of the Council's work in March.

The parties commended China for its considerations of the work in March as President of the Council and agreed to China's decision of taking multilateralism and political settlement of conflicts as the priorities. They expressed the readiness to keep in close communication with China to ensure that the Security Council plays a constructive role in maintaining international peace and security.