China's UN envoy reviews Security Council's work during China's presidency

China's envoy to the United Nations and president of the Security Council for the month of March, Zhang Jun, said that for the council the month has indeed been a "march''.

It is "a march against strong headwind, a march in uncharted territories and a march without updated navigation," he said Tuesday in reviewing the council's work under China's presidency.

Zhang said the Council discussed the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its agenda, and urged parties to immediately cease hostilities, allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance, strengthen the safety and security of peacekeepers and provide more help to countries combating COVID-19.

He said COVID-19 poses a threat to human security and is an enormous challenge to the functioning of the council and all UN agencies.

As president of the Security Council during March, Zhang said China has made strenuous efforts to fulfill its responsibilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked closely with council members, doing everything possible to tackle the fallout from the pandemic.

While calling the COVID-19 pandemic most unfortunate, Zhang said "what is fortunate is that the UN-centered multilateral system is stronger than ever before".

"Facing this major test, China was not overwhelmed by the challenges. Instead, as the president of the council, China has spared no effort to ensure the council moves forward in delivering its mandate. We are proud of what we have done," he said.

This year marks the UN's 75th anniversary, and Zhang said "having served as president of the Security Council at this difficult time, I believe that the best commemoration of the anniversary would be reassuring the mission of the UN Charter and practicing multilateralism through hard work''.

"China will, as always, uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law and promote a global community with a shared future," he said.

In reviewing the council's achievements during China's presidency, Zhang said China with other council members devised new work strategies for emergencies, enriched the council's working practices and improved its working mechanisms.

"With the joint efforts of all council members, we have been able to fulfill the responsibilities of the council and accomplished the most urgent parts of its work. I wish to express heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all council members for the spirit of unilateralism and responsible attitude that have been demonstrated in the past month," he said.

China has explored emergency work plans, making it possible for the council to discharge its mandate, Zhang said.

He noted that for the first time that the council engaged in a discussion on countering terrorism and extremism in Africa and the first time that the council adopted a resolution on safety and security of peacekeepers (Resolution 2518), which was initiated and submitted by China.

Zhang said other adopted resolutions included: Resolution 2513 on the Afghanistan situation, which supports an "Afghan owned and Afghan led" political process; Resolution 2514 on the UN Mission in South Sudan; Resolution 2515 on the Panel of Experts of 1718 Committee; Resolution 2516 on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia and Resolution 2517 on the UN-AU (African Union) Hybrid Operation in Darfur to renew their mandate or troop ceiling.

The Security Council made its voice heard on multiple incidents and regional issues, Zhang said. It adopted statements on the attack of peacekeeping soldiers of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.

He said the council also discussed the latest development in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Syria, Palestine and Afghanistan.