Strengthening Multilateralism and the Role of the UN

On Friday (November 9) the United Nations Security Council is planning to hold an open debate on “Strengthening multilateralism and the role of the United Nations”. China, as President of the Council for November, has circulated a concept note in advance of the discussions:

- How to better uphold multilateralism? The most basic principle of multilateralism is that when dealing with matters in the international arena, it is necessary to uphold fairness, justice and the participation of all countries in discussing actions to be taken; actions must be taken in accordance with rules agreed upon by all; and the interests and concerns of all countries must be taken into account. Currently the international environment is becoming increasingly unstable and uncertain. Countries need to engage in in-depth discussions on how to adapt to the trend of the times, how to foster unity and cooperation, and how to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

- How to further promote the role of the United Nations? The United Nations is a critical pillar of multilateralism. In the new environment, we must ask how we can better uphold and carry forward the purposes and principles of the Charter; how we can deepen coordination and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations; and how we can better support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and make the Organization relevant to all people.

- How to effectively address global challenges? Global challenges such as terrorism and risks to cybersecurity loom ever larger, requiring countries to formulate a coherent strategy and take collective action. How can we more effectively safeguard this collective mechanism? How can we promote peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, consultation and the path of political settlement? How can we enhance the role of United Nations peacekeeping operations in ensuring lasting peace and sustainable development?