China calls for enhanced peacekeeping co-op between UN, region

A Chinese envoy on Monday called for enhanced peacekeeping cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and regional organizations so as to maximize their respective advantages.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks here at the Security Council's open debate on regional partnership and its evolution in UN peacekeeping, which focused on the world organization's relevant cooperation with African regional groups.

Over the recent years, the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations such as the African Union (AU) have increasingly strengthen their cooperation in peacekeeping and have yielded good and recognizable results in peacekeeping operations in Darfur of Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Central African Republic and South Sudan, Liu told the 15-nation body.

"The United Nations needs to further strengthen cooperation with regional organizations such as the AU in strategic planning, deployment, communication and coordination of peacekeeping operations, so as to effectively support African regional organizations in their efforts to maintain regional peace and security," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy noted, the United Nations and regional organizations such as the AU should be guided by the UN Charter in strengthening their cooperation in peacekeeping operations.

The coordination should also be enhanced to fully display their respective advantages and to bring out synergy, he added.

Many of the African issues are very complicated and require comprehensive solutions. In this regard, regional organizations such as the AU have unique geographical, historical and cultural advantages in dispute mediation and peacekeeping operations, said the ambassador.

"The United Nations and regional organizations such as the AU should explore to build flexible, practical and diversified communication and cooperation mechanisms on the basis of equal treatment and mutual respect, so as to strengthen their cooperation in strategic planning, deployment, logistical management and support in peacekeeping," he said. "In this way, the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping operations can be raised."

Liu urged the UN and the international community to actively respond to the legitimate demands of such regional organizations as the AU and provide greater assistance to African regional and subregional organizations in personnel training, institution- building, logistical assistance and financial support, so as to strengthen their capacity-building in peacekeeping.

At the same time, "we should summarize our experiences and lessons learned, and appropriately respond to the challenges encountered in the transition of peacekeeping operations from regional organizations to the United Nations," Liu added.