CHINA on Monday assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council for August with the priorities of facilitating dialogue and cooperation for common security and supporting Africa’s capacity-building for sustaining peace.

Amid a shifting international landscape, the Security Council must revisit the role of dialogue and cooperation for common security, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

“The council must reaffirm its mission of maintaining common security and fulfill its due responsibilities. Therefore, China has proposed to hold a briefing Aug. 22 on the theme of ‘Maintenance of international peace and security: promote common security through dialogue and cooperation,’” he told a press briefing on the Security Council’s August work program.

“Through such discussions, we hope we can forge some basic consensus on this important issue, and we will understand better that our humanity shares the same future, shares the same world, and any country’s security is indivisible from [that of] others, and we are an indivisible security community. We hope that by working together, we can jointly maintain world peace and global security, we can also oppose bloc politics, oppose confrontation and make sure that we are all working toward the same direction,” he said.

The second priority will be to support Africa’s capacity-building to sustain peace, said Zhang.

He said that many African countries are facing myriad crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, war and conflict, climate change, and higher energy and food prices.

“We must go beyond humanitarian aid and focus on economic development. We must go beyond short-term assistance and seek long-term investment and long-term solutions in Africa. And we must go beyond blood transfusion and enhance their own blood-making function,” said Zhang.

China has proposed an open briefing Aug. 8 on the theme of “Peace and security in Africa: capacity-building for sustaining peace.” The aim is to help all parties better understand the African continent’s difficulties and adopt measures to address their root causes.

The Chinese presidency’s third priority is strengthening mediation efforts for the political settlement of hot-spot issues. The fourth priority is to uphold the openness, inclusiveness, solidity and cooperation of the Security Council, said Zhang.

Replying to questions, Zhang said China is a firm supporter of the United Nations in its role in addressing global challenges, upholding peace and security, and promoting common development.(Xinhua)