Mr. Chairman,

Admiral Mr. Parry,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, I would like to welcome you all to this Seminar on Peace Support Operations. Special thanks also go to our UK counterparts for their efforts in preparing for this seminar. I wish this seminar a success.

Dear colleagues,

This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations. Over the past sixty years, the UN has gone through ups and downs and contributed tremendously to world peace and development. Peace-keeping operation is an important instrument in fulfilling the mandate of the United Nations and it is an initiative of the mankind. It not only demonstrates the firm determination of member states of the UN to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, but also delivers to those people suffering from conflicts hope of recovering peace.

Currently there are 65,000 military personnel and civil police from 100 countries serving 16 UN peace operations. The number of persons involved and the scope of the operations have reached the peak over the decade. The requests of and expectation on the UN peace-keeping actions by parties concerned keep growing. In the meantime, UN peace-keeping operations are faced with unprecedented challenges. Fragile peace conditions, growing security risks, as well as problems arising from their mandate, financial resource, information, logistics and coordination give rise to contradiction between reality and expectation, objective and capacity of the peace-keeping operations.

Dear colleagues,

The UN peace-keeping actions are undergoing comprehensive and profound reforms. I would like to elaborate three points on how to further strengthen UN peace-keeping actions.

First, keep forging ahead, otherwise one will fall behind just like a boat sailing against the current. Though faced with some difficulties, the trend of reform is irreversible. Parties concerned should keep the momentum of dialogue and consultation, further promoting positive outcomes of the reform. Recommendations in the Brahimi Report should continue to be implemented. Report on the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change also contributes to upholding the multilateralism and maintaining the authority of the United Nations. China welcomes the report and wishes that member states could reach broad consensus through democratic and extensive discussion.

Secondly, give the money if you do have or otherwise the manpower. Supporting the reform and strengthening the UN peace-keeping operations are duties of every member state. Member states should display political will, take concrete actions and enhance responsibility and coordination. Regional and sub-regional organizations could play unique roles under the leadership of the United Nations. Financial support is important. Nonetheless, those men and women risking their safety even lives in peace-keeping operations deserve more respect. And the significance involved is even bigger. We need more countries to provide money and more people who are willing and ready to sacrifice.

Thirdly, to win a battle without firing a gunshot is a military art. Peace-keeping operations can not and will not address all problems. Facts demonstrate that, the UN Charter and the three principles of consent of the parties concerned, neutrality and non-use of forces except for self-defence are still valid. They are the basis for ensuring success of the peace-keeping operations. Besides, UN peace keeping operations should respect state sovereignty and the will of the people in the conflict regions and encourage them to play their roles in conflict resolution.

Dear colleagues,

The United Nations is a big family of 191 member states. Every success owes to the support of its member states. China and the United Kingdom are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. Thus it is particularly important to enhance mutual coordination and cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have conducted many activities in the field of peace-keeping and achieved good results. We are ready to make joint efforts with our UK colleagues to promote mutual peace-keeping cooperation to a new hight.

Dear colleagues,

I would like to share with you one of my family secrets. Right now at this moment, and far beyond this platform, my wife is serving the UN peace-keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are jungles and military clashes. She is the only Chinese woman there. She is there for peace. I am very proud of her.

Thank you!