UN Security Council to take stock of growing challenges

China will preside over a ministerial-level meeting of the UN Security Council this month focusing on new approaches which the international community should take to face current and emerging challenges as the world body marks its 70th anniversary this year.
China said re-commitment to the UN's central role in international cooperation to maintain peace as well as work on a range of global situations of concern would be its focus as it assumed the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council for the month of February.
"As we approach the seventieth anniversary of the Organisation's founding, it is time for the United Nations to look at how it could best work to maximise the opportunities we face to foster a new type of international relations based on cooperation, multilateralism and Charter principles," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi told reporters at the monthly briefing on the council's programme of work.

Along with meetings on about 20 other topics, China has planned an open debate on February 23, to be presided over by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to reflect on the history of efforts by the UN to maintain international peace and security through the Security Council and other tools, and to foster cooperative, integrative approaches to face current and emerging challenges, he said.
Jieyi said the meeting would focus on non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states, equal participation of states, national ownership of assistance efforts, involvement of regional organisations in resolving disputes and international democracy and rule of law.

He said that the open debate would also be an opportunity for member states to discuss their own priorities in the maintenance of peace and security, adding that no formal outcome was however expected from the meeting.

Other items on the agenda include consultations on Syria on February 5 in regard to political efforts and elimination of chemical weapons, with Special Representative Steffan de Mistura and Under-Secretary-General Angela Kane briefing the council.
A briefing on the sanctions committee regarding North Korea, other sanctions regimes and on collaboration between the UN and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will also be held this month.

On Palestinian issues, Jieyi said he would ensure that any draft resolution submitted by members received the appropriate consideration in the effort of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
In regard to questions on open debate on maintenance of peace, Jieyi said it could encompass terrorism or any particular challenges that member states brought up, but the meeting was meant to take a comprehensive look at the current security landscape and seek solutions in a broad context.