On March 30, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2518, the first on the safety and security of peacekeepers by 15 affirmative votes. The resolution was sponsored by China and cosponsored by 43 countries: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Greece, Guinea, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

The resolution covers areas such as training, health, technology, partnerships, including strengthening training system, improving health security and relief capabilities, requiring peacekeeping missions to strengthen communication with host countries, building mutual trust, improving the level of technology application, strengthening coordination mechanism arrangements, through partnerships to support the African Union and other regional organizations capacity-building, committing to taking all-dimensional measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.

United Nations peacekeeping operations are born in response to the needs of the times and evolve with the development of the times. For 72 years, United Nations peacekeeping operations have played a significant role in the political settlement of hot-spot issues as an effective means of maintaining international peace and security. There are currently more than 95,000 peacekeepers on active duty in 13 mission areas. At the same time, the challenges faced by peacekeeping operations are on the rise, and traditional and non-traditional security factors are posing serious threats to the security of peacekeepers.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and a crucial year for the implementation of Secretary-General Guterres' "Action for Peace" Initiative. China is a major contributor and troop contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and a strong supporter and important participant in United Nations peacekeeping operations. President Xi Jinping's six-point commitment proposed at the 2015 UN peacekeeping summit has been implemented. In this context, China has promoted the adoption of a security resolution on the safety and security of peacekeepers by the Security Council, with the aim of demonstrating its firm support for United Nations peacekeeping operations, fulfilling its commitment to multilateralism, pushing the international community towards increasing its input in peacekeeping operations and taking practical measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and improve peacekeeping operations. This is the first resolution on the safety and security of peacekeepers and is well-received by the Broad Membership as a timely fit for the current peacekeeping situation in line with the expectations of the international community.

In the context of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of the Council faces serious practical difficulties. As the sponsor of the draft resolution and Presidency for this month, China has actively explored new working methods, maintained consultations with Council members by telephone, video, mails among other means, and broadened consensus, reflecting the Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security through practical actions. China appreciates the valuable support provided by the members of the Security Council, Member States, troop-contributing countries and the Secretariat.