Senior UN official lauds China's peacekeeping role

A United Nations deputy secretary-general on Friday in Beijing praised China's growing role in UN peacekeeping, saying the country's support "enables vital operations in some of the world's most difficult theatres".

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations of the United Nations, made the remarks at a plenary session of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which concluded on Friday.

"As the second-largest financial contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, and one of the top — actually the top — troop and police contributing country among the Security Council permanent members, China's support enables vital operations in some of the world's most difficult theatres," the senior UN official said.

He noted that China's peacekeeping personnel have served with professionalism and dedication in missions across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.

"They have helped reinforce local stability, supported international institutional reform and built community trust," Lacroix said in his speech at the high-end global security dialogue.

The forum, with the theme of Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development, has been attended by over 1,800 officials and experts from over 100 countries, regions, and international organizations.

In his keynote address at Thursday's opening ceremony, Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun reaffirmed the Chinese military's commitment to UN peacekeeping and safeguarding world peace.

"China is willing to increase its input to UN peace efforts, build high-standard peacekeeping standby forces, and launch technology-empowerment initiatives to help enhance the UN's peacekeeping effectiveness," he said.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix also thanked China for the new proposals announced at the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May. He said that China has operationalized the 8,000-strong standby peacekeeping force and is committed to incorporating situational awareness, high-tech explosive ordnance disposal, and counter-unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities.