According to a message on the website of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations on November 14, during the open debate on the working methods of the UN Security Council that morning, Ambassador Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated that unilateralism, power politics, and Cold War mentality are rising, and the multilateral system is facing serious challenges. The Security Council should revisit its original mission and commitment, adhere to the correct principles, clarify the direction for improvement, strengthen unity and cooperation, and inject more stability and positive energy into an unstable world.

The full text of Ambassador Fu Cong's speech is as follows:

Mr. President:

I thank Ambassador Larsen, Ms. Seifert, and Ms. Candia for their statements, and thank non-Security Council members for their attention and active participation in today's meeting.

The UN Charter entrusts the Security Council with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The working methods of the Security Council have never been a simple technical issue; they concern the effectiveness of the Security Council's performance and the role and authority of the United Nations. Currently, unilateralism, power politics, and Cold War mentality are on the rise, and the multilateral system is facing serious challenges. The Security Council needs to revisit its original mission and commitment, uphold the correct principles, clarify the direction for improvement, enhance unity and cooperation, and inject more stability and positive energy into an unstable world. I would like to share a few views:

First, promote equal consultation and build broad consensus. In recent years, the number of consensus outcomes adopted by the Security Council has significantly decreased, and many draft resolutions are forced to be voted on despite significant controversies. This not only deepens internal divisions within the Security Council but also weakens the political weight and authoritative effect of the resolutions, leading to difficulties in their subsequent implementation. Security Council members should respect and understand each other, listen to and take into account each other's reasonable concerns, and strive to reach consensus. Although the consultation process is time-consuming and laborious, consensus outcomes can withstand the test of history and reality. In this regard, the role of the drafting country is particularly critical. The drafting country means responsibility rather than privilege. It should work to bridge differences and build consensus, rather than prioritize national interests or misuse public resources. We need to continuously improve the requirements for the drafting country's performance, ensure that the power of the drafting country operates in the light of day, and be subject to the joint supervision of Security Council members.

Second, focus on core mandates and improve quality and efficiency. The Security Council should take the UN80 reform as an opportunity to revisit the original intent of the Charter, focus on its core mandate, and strengthen its leadership role in the UN's pillar of peace and security. The Security Council should also start with small things, striving to overcome formalism and bureaucracy. We should streamline meeting arrangements, adjust the review cycle in a timely manner according to the ground situation, and reduce the frequency of discussions on comprehensive topics that are repetitive and lack practical effectiveness. We should control the length of meetings and speeches, and encourage countries with similar views to make joint statements. We should avoid long-winded and vague outcome documents, and improve readability and operability. We should flexibly decide the format of meetings, appropriately increase informal consultations, and promote honest and efficient communication among members.

Third, adhere to a results-oriented approach and take practical actions. The Security Council should comprehensively use the various tools granted by the Charter to promote the political resolution of hotspot issues. According to the requirements of Chapter VI of the Charter, we should implement the spirit of Resolution 2788 and prioritize resolving disputes through dialogue, mediation, and negotiation. Sanctions are a special tool granted to the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, aimed at creating favorable conditions for political solutions, and should not become a substitute for diplomatic efforts. The Security Council should handle sanction issues with caution and responsibility, adjust and lift them in a timely manner according to the changing situation, and seek ways to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions on humanitarian situations and economic and social livelihoods. The Security Council should also support regional mechanisms such as the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Arab League, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in accordance with the spirit of Chapter VIII of the Charter, allowing them to play their unique strengths and resolve regional issues through regional approaches.

Fourth, exercise the veto power prudently and uphold fairness and justice. The veto power system is a necessary arrangement to encourage coordination among major powers and prevent great power confrontation, and it is a "safety valve" added to the Security Council by the UN Charter. From the perspective of historical practice, this system has generally fulfilled its intended role. However, some countries have recently ignored the overwhelming voice of the international community, repeatedly abusing the veto power on the issue of Gaza, blocking the Security Council's actions, and causing great controversy. China calls on relevant countries to listen to the voice of the international community, truly fulfill the responsibilities of major powers, and exercise the veto power with caution, based on compliance with international law and the maintenance of fairness and justice.

Mr. President,

As a permanent member, China has always participated in the work of the Security Council with a responsible attitude, supported the role of the Security Council, and safeguarded its authority. We are willing to continue working with all parties to promote the exploration of effective ways to improve working methods, and to enable the Security Council to better fulfill its duties and play a constructive role in maintaining international peace and security.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572745157171216934/

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