Chinese representative: China will continue to play a positive role in achieving peaceful development in Africa

On October 12th local time, Zhang Jun, the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, stated that China will continue to play a positive role in achieving peaceful development in Africa and increasing cooperation with the international community.
On the same day, Zhang Jun stated at the open meeting of the Security Council on "Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union" that in recent years, the African Union and sub regional organizations have actively responded to peace and security challenges and promoted the African approach to solving African problems. Faced with global and regional challenges, the Security Council should continue to support the African Union in leveraging its strengths and role. United Nations peacekeeping operations should also be adept at learning from the beneficial practices of the African Union, adapting to changes in the situation, and playing their due role. The United Nations and the African Union have an equal cooperative relationship, and there is no question of who leads and who commands. We cannot impose so-called "standards" on Africa under the guise of the United Nations, as this approach interferes with Africa's internal affairs and is not conducive to cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations.
Zhang Jun said that we should establish a partnership of mutual assistance and shared responsibility. The negative impact of colonialism and hegemonic practices on peace and stability in Africa is far from being eliminated, and global crises and geopolitical conflicts have brought new harm to Africa. The international community should prioritize the maintenance of peace and stability in Africa, and the United Nations should prioritize responding to the concerns of the African Union. Some developed countries should take on greater responsibility and make up for their "historical debts" as soon as possible, rather than shifting responsibility or leaving.
Zhang Jun said that African countries have contributed to the African Union's peacekeeping operations and called on the international community to provide predictable and sustainable funding. Traditional developed country investors need to maintain their support, and the United Nations should promote substantive progress on relevant issues as soon as possible. There is a serious shortage of humanitarian funds in Congo (DRC), Somalia, South Sudan, and the Sahel. Relevant parties need to timely and fully fulfill their humanitarian aid commitments. At the first African Climate Summit, African leaders collectively demanded that developed countries fulfill their 14 year delayed climate financing commitments. The Security Council should play a role in urging the effective translation of political commitments to Africa into concrete actions.
Zhang Jun said that currently, the hotspot issues in the Horn of Africa are complex and difficult to solve, the political situation in West Africa and the Sahel countries is repeatedly unstable, and violent terrorist activities are rampant in the Great Lakes and Lake Chad regions. These conflict situations are cyclical and worth in-depth consideration. The international community should help relevant countries strengthen their capacity building in government governance, security sector reform, sustainable development, and human resource development. The United Nations should strongly support Africa in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and make more efforts in eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, strengthening infrastructure construction, and increasing employment.
Zhang Jun stated that China has always regarded supporting African capacity building as an important part of cooperation with Africa, and is committed to helping Africa achieve industrialization, modernization, and sustainable development. Chinese leaders announced their support for the African Industrialization Initiative, Agricultural Modernization Plan, and Talent Development Cooperation Plan at the China Africa Leaders' Dialogue in South Africa in August this year, injecting new impetus into the process of African integration and modernization construction. Next year, China will host the new China Africa Cooperation Forum meeting. China will take this opportunity to continue to play a positive role in achieving peaceful development in Africa.