UNITED NATIONS: A Chinese envoy stressed the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and asked the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization to make more contributions in this regard.
The purposes and principles of the UN Charter provide the fundamental guidance for handling international relations, and are an important cornerstone for stabilizing the international order.
The special committee is the only standing meeting mechanism within the UN framework devoted to the discussion of the UN Charter and strengthening the role of the United Nations, said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
China supports the special committee in continuing its work within its mandate and making greater efforts and contributions to safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the role of the organization, he told the opening of the 2021 session of the special committee.
In recent years, the special committee has made useful explorations on issues such as UN sanctions and the prohibition of the use of force, an effort that has China’s appreciation, he said.
On UN sanctions, China wishes to reiterate two points, said Geng.
First, sanctions are a means rather than an end, and should serve the purpose of the political settlement of related issues. The Security Council should take a prudent and responsible attitude toward sanctions. Second, sanctions should be imposed only at the exhaustion of all other peaceful means, and should be carried out in keeping with the UN Charter and relevant principles of international law, so as to minimize the impact on the general public and third countries. – Agencies
