China lauded for its growing role in UN peacekeeping

A senior United Nations official on Friday praised China's growing role in UN peacekeeping efforts, saying that the country's support "enables vital operations in some of the world's most difficult theaters".

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, under-secretary-general for peace operations of the UN, made the remarks at a plenary session of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which concluded on Friday.

China, "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," provides support that enables vital operations in some of the world's most difficult theaters, said Lacroix.

He noted that China's peacekeeping personnel have served and continue to serve 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," the senior UN official said in his speech at the high-level global security dialogue.

The forum, under the theme titled "Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development", was attended by more than 1,800 officials and experts from over 100 countries, regions and international organizations.

In his keynote address at Thursday's opening ceremony, 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," Dong said.

Lacroix also thanked China for the new proposals announced at the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, the capital of Germany, 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.

At the May meeting in Berlin, Dong, the Chinese defense chief, laid out six proposals to support the reform and transformation of UN peacekeeping operations, reaffirming China's longstanding commitment to multilateral security cooperation. The six-point proposal included advancing the Global Security Initiative through unity, cooperation and mutual benefit in addressing international security challenges. He also called for firm support for the UN's central role in global peace and security.

Additional proposals included enhancing training for peacekeeping professionals, organizing high-level strategic seminars, expanding training sessions and improving the readiness and capabilities of China's peacekeeping standby forces.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Chinese military's participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

At a briefing on Wednesday during the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Senior Colonel Gong Guoxi, deputy director of the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of China's Ministry of National Defense, said the People's Liberation Army has taken part in 26 UN peacekeeping missions over the past 35 years, deploying more than 50,000 peace-keepers in total. Their footprints have spanned more than 20 countries and regions, including Cambodia, Lebanon, Cyprus and South Sudan.