October 2, 2024
President,
I thank Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, and Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee for their respective briefings.
Over the years, communication and cooperation between the UN and the AU have grown ever stronger, representing one of the most enduring, comprehensive, and fruitful partnerships. Recently, at the Summit of the Future and the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, many member states called on the UN to strengthen cooperation with the AU and other regional organizations. Going forward, the United Nations and the African Union should make further efforts in the following four areas.
First, ending conflicts and violence in Africa and safeguarding common security. At present, protracted conflicts are raging on from Sudan to eastern DRC, and terrorism is wreaking havoc from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel. In light of this, the Security Council and the wider international community must increase their attention and engagement in Africa, rather than allowing it to be diluted by other situations. The UN’s presence in Africa, especially UN PKOs and SPMs, must heed the views of the host countries, focus on fulfilling core mandates, and effectively improve their performance and efficiency. Later this month, the Security Council will hold its annual consultations with the AUPSC. We hope that both Councils will chart a clearer way forward for better communication and cooperation and the maintenance of common security.
Second, supporting African-led peacekeeping operations and deepening cooperation on an equal footing. Africa is experiencing a new awakening. The AU is undertaking more independent peace operations, assuming regional security responsibilities and making important contributions to the maintenance of regional and international peace. All those efforts should be fully recognized and supported. Ensuring adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding for AU-led peace operations is an inherent part of the UN-AU partnership. The framework arrangements laid out in Security Council Resolution 2719 should be operationalized as soon as possible.
Third, eliminating the root causes of conflict in Africa and promoting common development. Poverty and war are by no means Africa’s destiny. On the contrary, blessed with unique resources endowment, Africa has all the potential to become a promising land of development. Mozambique and Sierra Leone used to be on the Council’s agenda. Now both countries are steadily moving towards peace and prosperity, and can offer valuable experience and serve as role models in promoting peace process, dialogue and reconciliation, as well as reconstruction and Development. When addressing conflicts in Africa, the UN should not only deliver stability in the short term, but also focus on the long run and make greater efforts to help the host countries achieve sustainable development. Developed countries should earnestly honor their commitments to African countries regarding official development assistance and climate finance, and scale up technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
Fourth, improving the global governance system and redressing the historical injustice done to Africa. African countries have emerged from colonial rule and achieved national independence. Their membership has transformed the UN and significantly expanded the universality of this Organization. However, the current international order is still shaped by unfair and unreasonable elements for African countries. True equality in access to rule-setting, opportunities, and power remains elusive. During the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, African leaders called for accelerating the reform of the global governance system in order to undo the historical injustice that Africa has suffered for so long. China firmly supports Africa’s just demands. We have always advocated that developing countries, especially African states, should have greater representation and voice in the global governance system. We support the reform of the international financial architecture, so that multilateral financial institutions can provide more support for Africa’s development. With respect to the reform of the Security Council, China supports making special arrangements in order to address Africa’s aspirations as a priority.
President
The UN Agenda 2063 has set out Africa’s vision for modernization, as well as the continent’s willingness to work with the UN and other multilateral organizations to address the most pressing challenges facing humanity, such as security, poverty, hunger, disease, gender equality, climate, and development. China will continue to actively support the UN and the Security Council in strengthening cooperation with the AU. We remain committed to advancing hand in hand with Africa along its path to modernization. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held last month, Chinese and African leaders elevated the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. Standing at this new historical starting point, China will work with African countries to implement the outcome of the Summit and launch the ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and jointly march towards a peaceful, secure, and prosperous future.
Thank you, President.