The enhanced interaction between the Security Council and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) will bring added value to strengthening multilateralism, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, said Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, while addressing the Security Council open debate on “Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations: the role of the International Organization of La Francophonie” on 8 September 2020.

This open debate, held in virtual format, was initiated by Niger, Presidency of the Security Council of September as one of its signature events this month. UN Assistant Secretary-General Keita, Secretary-General Ms. Mushikiwabo of the OIF, and Mr. Mnatsakanyan, Foreign Minister of Armenia, current Chair of the Ministerial Conference of OIF briefed the meeting.

In his statement, Ambassador Zhang affirmed that China supports the UN and its Security Council in deepening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in accordance with Chapter Ⅷ of the UN Charter.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that there are several OIF members on the Security Council agenda, including Mali, CAR, DRC, Haiti, etc. With its unique advantages, OIF can complement the work of the UN and its Security Council and foster synergy in helping these countries achieve lasting peace and stability. In this regard, China welcomes more engagement of OIF in carrying out mediation, promoting dialogue, facilitating mutual trust and peaceful settlement of differences. The principle of sovereign equality and national ownership should be observed in this process. China welcomes more engagement of OIF in UN peacekeeping operations, to help peacekeepers strengthen capacity building, including through language training and other technical support.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized that China encourages the members of OIF to support each other and strengthen North-South cooperation, especially by helping developing members develop their economies, expand employment, eradicate poverty, and effectively improve people’s living standards, so as to jointly promote the SDGs.