On August 2, 2019, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu met with representatives from various countries to China for the Seminar on Affairs of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Diplomats from the five newly-elected non-permanent members of the Security Council, namely Tunisia, Niger, Estonia, Vietnam and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and officials from the UN Secretariat were present.

Ma Zhaoxu said, the world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. With unstable and uncertain factors in the international situation on the rise, unilateralism, protectionism and bullying are severely impacting the existing international order. As the core of the international collective security mechanism, the UN Security Council plays an irreplaceable role and faces increasingly complex and daunting challenges. The members of the UN Security Council should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, adhere to the political settlement of hotspot issues, maintain solidarity, properly handle differences, and constantly enhance the authority and effectiveness of the UN Security Council. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. China will always stick to its commitment to the UN and multilateralism, devote itself to cooperating with all parties at the UN Security Council, and more firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, so as to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Members of all countries spoke highly of China’s firm support for multilateralism and the role of the UN. They noted that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has played an important role in international affairs. They are willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side in the UN and the UN Security Council. All sides thanked China for organizing the Seminar on Affairs of the UN Security Council, which provided an important and useful platform for the newly-elected members of the Security Council to familiarize themselves with the work of the UN Security Council and enhance dialogues and exchanges.

The seminar was hosted by the Department of International Organizations and Conferences and organized by China Diplomatic Academy. Representatives from the five newly-elected non-permanent member countries of the Security Council for 2020 to 2021 had in-depth discussions on topics such as the international situation, the working and operating methods of the Security Council and regional hotspot issues, and paid a visit to the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations for exchanges and communications.