UN peacekeeping should keep pace with changing times: Chinese FM

UN peacekeeping should keep pace with the changing times, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

He made the remarks when speaking at a high-level meeting on UN peacekeeping, held at the UN headquarters in New York and on the margins of the UN General Assembly's annual general debate session.

Since 1948, the Blue Helmet has been a symbol of the UN that brings peace to conflict zones and hope to local people, Wang said.

"Today, much has changed regarding the circumstances and mission of UN peacekeeping operations, which calls for constant improvement and innovation in peacekeeping in line with the changing times," he told the meeting.

China supports UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's proposal for a review of peacekeeping operations, Wang noted.

"We believe this should be made a priority for the 69th Session of the General Assembly, and we hope to make positive progress by the 70th anniversary of the UN next year," he said.

China maintains that operation mandate needs to be improved, the foreign minister said, adding that when planning peacekeeping missions, the Security Council needs to set realistic and feasible goals with clearly defined priority tasks.

"Peacekeeping operations should be conducted in line with the situation on the ground," Wang said. "There should be timely assessment of how a mandate is implemented and corresponding adjustments should be made in light of changing circumstances."

There should be an exit strategy, which ensures smooth transition to peacebuilding, as well as in-depth discussion of issues such as effective protection of civilians, he said.

Wang also called for efforts to make peacekeeping operations more effective, which he said is of critical importance for enhancing the rapid deployment capability of peacekeeping missions.

"The Security Council, the Secretariat, the host country and troop contributing countries should have closer communication and coordination to improve the procedure of establishing a peacekeeping mission," said Wang.

"The Global Field Support Strategy will come under a five-year review next year," he said. "The UN should seize this opportunity to improve the field support system."

Management of peacekeeping operations should be strengthened by following practices that have been proven successful to raise the cost-effectiveness of peacekeeping resources and avoid duplication and waste, he added.

Wang went on to stress the need to enhance capacity building of peacekeeping operations, saying China calls on more countries with the proper capabilities and conditions to contribute troops and equipments to peacekeeping operations in order to address the serious shortage of peacekeeping resources.

"The UN needs to develop unified standards for the organization, training and supervision of peacekeepers, and step up training of peacekeepers at all levels to prepare them for various regional conflicts," he said.

"Peacekeeping operations need to be supported with new technologies, equipment and means. Legal issues that may arise therefrom should be fully studied. The UN Charter must be observed and the sovereignty and will of host countries must be fully respected," he added.

Wang also said the UN needs to work closely with regional organizations in peacekeeping, noting that peacekeeping cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations is producing good results.

"We welcome the progress and view it as an important development of the international collective security mechanism," he said. "The Secretariat needs to enhance coordination and collaboration with the African Union and other regional organizations so that peacekeeping missions well meet different regional situations."