According to the website of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations, on October 15, Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered a speech at the briefing on the "UN80" structural reform initiative, proposing three preliminary suggestions for the reform of the United Nations' structure.

Screenshot from the website of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations

The full text is as follows:

Mr. President,

I thank you for convening this meeting and for the statement by Secretary-General Guterres. I support the statement made by the representative of Iraq on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Faced with a complex international situation, upholding multilateralism, strengthening the role of the United Nations, and reforming and improving global governance are the shared aspirations of all countries, as well as the ultimate goal of the "UN80" reform initiative. China attaches great importance to the Secretary-General's report on structural reform and is carefully studying it. I would like to share a few preliminary suggestions:

First, structural reform should be planned before taking action. Structural adjustments are the most difficult and far-reaching step in the UN80 reform, requiring adequate discussion and deliberation. The Secretariat should propose a reform plan prudently, based on summarizing past experiences and looking toward long-term development. During the process, in-depth research and investigation, careful consideration of pros and cons, and comprehensive scientific argumentation should be conducted. At the same time, openness and transparency should be maintained, and extensive consultations with Member States should be carried out to achieve the greatest consensus, ensuring that the reform decisions can withstand historical scrutiny.

Second, structural reform must focus on the right direction. In the area of development, the role of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) as a core department for development should be strengthened. The Secretariat should enhance internal coordination centered around DESA and strengthen guidance over regional and country-specific work. Given the different levels of development and actual situations in various regions, regional reforms should be realistic and tailored to the requirements of the countries in the region. Resident Coordinators in the development system should focus on their development mandates and avoid blindly expanding into other areas such as peace and security. Some mandates in the field of peace and security come from the Security Council, so the Secretariat should pay attention to the views of the Security Council regarding structural adjustments. Regarding the establishment of a human rights group, China hopes to gain further understanding of the relevant considerations and work plans.

Third, structural reform should pursue practical results. All departments and agencies of the United Nations should prioritize fulfilling their core mandates, leveraging their strengths and expertise, and avoiding deviation from their main tasks. With regard to the review of senior positions such as Special Envoys, Representatives, Coordinators, and Advisors of the Secretary-General, we hope that the Secretariat will quickly present an audit report and reform recommendations for consideration by Member States. It is essential to attach great importance to the insufficient representation of developing countries in the Secretariat, and the reform process should not exacerbate the imbalance in the geographical representation of staff.

Mr. President,

President Xi Jinping proposed a global governance initiative aimed at supporting the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs and promoting the transformation of the global governance system towards a more just and reasonable direction. Under the guidance of the global governance initiative, China will work together with Member States and the Secretariat to advance the UN80 reform in a direction that benefits the long-term development of the United Nations and the common interests of Member States.

Thank you.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7561583432699019830/

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