(Photo by Li Muzi, Xinhua News Agency)

In recent years, while fully discharging its responsibilities, the Security Council has worked to improve its working methods, increase efficiency and enhance transparency. With efforts of the Council members and the support of the broader membership of the United Nations, the Council has constantly improved its working methods in practice and has made positive progress.

There has been a marked increase in the number of open debates of the Council. The Council has strengthened coordination with the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other United Nations bodies as well as regional organizations. The Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Matters has adopted numerous notes by the President, made recommendations on improving the Council’s annual report, maintained regular contact with the Peacebuilding Commission and strengthened interactions with countries that contribute troops to peacekeeping operations. All of these efforts have yielded good results.

China supports the Council in its continued efforts to improve its working methods. We believe that attention should be given to the following three areas.

First, key points should be highlighted to ensure their effect. The Charter of the United Nations contains specific provisions on the responsibilities of the Council and other United Nations bodies. The Council should concentrate its energy and resources on addressing pressing issues threatening international peace and security to improve the real effect of its actions. While deliberating on some thematic issues, the Council should align and coordinate its efforts with those of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other United Nations bodies in order to avoid duplication.

Secondly, it is imperative to emphasize consultation and collective decision-making. When it comes to decision-making at the Council and its subsidiary bodies, Council members should engage in adequate consultations in a bid to achieve consensus. If there are still significant differences between parties, no actions should be forced through. Rather, parties should insist on seeking maximum consensus so as to safeguard the authority of the Council.

Thirdly, to strengthen good offices, coordination and communication, the Council should champion and advance the culture of peace and give full play to political means, such as preventive diplomacy, mediation and good offices to push for diplomatic solutions to crises and avoid the use or the threat of use of sanctions wantonly. The Council should strengthen coordination with the Member States and regional organizations, heed the input of the countries on its agenda and draw on the experience of regional organizations in dealing with regional issues and leverage their advantages in terms of close geographical distance, history and culture. In this way, the Council can more reasonably make decisions and form synergies so as to jointly play a role in seeking the peaceful settlement of disputes.

China has always supported with its actions the efforts of the Council to improve its working methods so that it can work more equitably, efficiently and transparently and better respond to the expectations of the Member States and the international community. China stands ready to work together with members of the Council and the wider membership of the United Nations to draw upon experience and make innovations in order to push for active fulfillment of the Council’s duties so as to play a constructive role in safeguarding international peace and security.