President,

I commend Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, and Denmark for jointly initiating this meeting, and thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, Assistant Secretary-General Pobee, and Mr. Hussein for their briefings.

United Nations peace operation is an effective means of maintaining international peace and security, and a vital tool for addressing crises and conflicts. At present, while the overall international situation remains stable, localized turbulence persists, and peace operations continue to be in high demand. At the same time, it is important to recognize that expectations for peace operations are evolving. Regionally-led peace efforts are emerging as a growing trend, and peace operations face challenges in improving performance and efficiency, as well as in focusing on core mandates. The Security Council should accelerate the transformation of peace operations, enhance their adaptability, and better support the political resolution of hotspot issues. I would like to make the following points:

First, political settlement must be placed at the core of peace operations. The practice of UN peace operations has repeatedly demonstrated that successful implementation of mandates and the achievement of mission objectives depend on supporting a realistic, viable, and sustainable political process. Peace operations should consistently aim to create time, space, and favorable conditions for advancing political solutions. The international community should not ease its efforts toward political settlement once a mission is deployed, nor should peace operations be regarded as a substitute for the political process. Otherwise, conflicts may only be temporarily frozen rather than effectively addressed at their roots, and peace operations will ultimately not succeed.

Second, peace operations should be better aligned with the expectations of host countries. The Security Council should remain attuned to the needs of national government and local residents, and seize the opportunities of peace operation reform and transformation to help peace operations define their role, refine mandates, and respond to the political needs of host countries. AU-led peacekeeping efforts should be fully supported, and African-led and African-owned solutions should be encouraged. We look forward to the full operationalization of Security Council resolution 2719, which is essential to providing adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing for AU-led peacekeeping operations, and to empowering the AU and sub-regional organizations to actively address peace and security challenges on the continent.

Third, joint support must be mobilized to ensure the success of peace operations. Peace operations cannot succeed without the concerted support of all stakeholders. As peace operations are mandated by the Security Council, its members have a particular responsibility to lead by example in supporting them. All parties, especially Council members, should fulfill their financial obligations by paying assessed contributions in full, rather than cutting or withholding funding. Council members must also uphold the resolutions they have adopted, rather than applying them selectively. Troop- and police-contributing countries, the Peacebuilding Commission, host countries, and other relevant actors should enhance coordination, fulfill their respective responsibilities, and leverage their comparative strengths to jointly support political solutions to hotspot issues.

Fourth, continued and robust support must be provided to troop- and police-contributing countries. The achievements of peace operations are inseparable from the collective efforts of these contributors. At present, peacekeepers from 116 countries are serving in 20 missions, undertaking the vital task of addressing conflicts and crises and maintaining peace and security. At the same time, they also face complex challenges, including threats to their safety and security, as well as the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The international community should continue to provide strong political, financial, and technical support, and actively create the conditions necessary for peacekeepers to successfully fulfill their mandated tasks.

President,

As the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping and the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the Security Council, China has consistently supported United Nations peace operations through concrete actions and shoulders important responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security. Currently, nearly 1,800 Chinese peacekeepers are serving in seven mission areas, including South Sudan and Abyei. China also maintains a standby peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops. Over the past 35 years of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping, 17 Chinese peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. We will continue to dynamically optimize the composition and capabilities of our standby force to better respond to the evolving needs of UN peace operation reform and transformation. China will engage constructively in discussions on the independent review of peace operations and hopes that the review will fully reflect continuity, adaptability, and inclusiveness, take into account realities on the ground, and provide targeted recommendations to support the transformation of peace operations and the advancement of political solutions.

I thank you.