China News Agency, United Nations, May 3 (Reporter Madlin) Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, held a press conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the 3rd to introduce the main work arrangements for China during the rotating presidency of the Security Council in May.

  Zhang Jun said that as the core mechanism of international collective security, the Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security.

In the face of various global challenges, the international community generally expects that the Security Council will strengthen unity and cooperation, play a greater role, and maintain a peaceful and stable international environment.

China attaches great importance to the work of serving as the presidency of the Security Council, and will maintain the continuity, inclusiveness and effectiveness of the Council’s work in a responsible and constructive manner, strengthen communication and consultation with Council members and parties, earnestly perform its duties, and promote the Council’s effective role.

  Zhang Jun introduced the four priorities of the work of the Security Council this month.

The first is to firmly uphold and practice multilateralism and support the United Nations in playing its core role.

The second is to promote solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges of the epidemic and promote the recovery of development of countries in conflict areas.

The third is to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and promote political settlement of regional hotspot issues.

The fourth is to promote the strengthening of the capacity and mechanism of the United Nations to provide a guarantee for responding to complex challenges.

  Focusing on the above work priorities, the Security Council will hold a high-level meeting on “Maintaining International Peace and Security: Maintaining Multilateralism and the International System with the United Nations as the Core” on May 7; on May 19, it will hold “African Peace and Security: Advancing the African Epidemic”. Post-reconstruction, eliminating the root causes of conflicts" high-level public debate; on May 24, a public debate on "United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Improving the Safety of Peacekeepers" was held.

  The Security Council will hold more than 20 meetings on regional hotspot issues this month, covering issues such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria, the Middle East, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts; it will also deal with the Abyei Interim Security Force (UNISFA) , South Sudan sanctions, Iraqi Assistance Mission (UNAMI) and other authorized extension resolutions.

Zhang Jun said that many hot issues are at a critical stage. Some need to consolidate hard-won positive progress, some need to vigorously promote the process of peace and reconciliation, and some need to increase diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation of tensions.

As the rotating presidency, China will continue to work together with other members of the Security Council, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the basic norms of international relations, and adhere to the correct direction of political settlement.

  Zhang Jun said that in order to do a good job in the presidency, China will continue to promote the Security Council to actively improve its working methods, increase efficiency, and enhance transparency and inclusiveness.

We will strengthen communication with all parties.

Civil society representatives will continue to be invited to participate in relevant meetings and make briefings.

We will also consult with the members of the Security Council and strive to arrange physical meetings and physical events in the United Nations building on the premise of respecting science and ensuring health.

  The chairman of the Security Council is assumed by the 15 members of the Security Council in rotation for a period of one month, which plays an important role in determining the issues of the month and guiding deliberation.

The last time China assumed the chairmanship was March 2020.

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