The international community should strengthen cooperation on natural resource governance to safeguard the stability of global resource supply and industrial chains, and contribute to international peace and development, says a Chinese envoy to the United Nations.
The UN Security Council held a high-level open debate on Wednesday themed "Natural resource governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity". It explored how inclusive, transparent and sustainable natural resource governance can help reverse conflict dynamics and strengthen conditions for peace.
"Natural resources are precious gifts bestowed by the Earth on humanity and constitute the material foundation for human survival and sustained economic and social development," said Sun Lei, charge d'affaires ad interim of China's Permanent Mission to the UN.
"However, conflicts in some regions demonstrate that resource abundance does not automatically bring development and prosperity, while poor governance may trigger and fuel violence and conflict," Sun said. Peace and stability are the solid guarantee for natural resource governance, he said.
The international community should uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, remain committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, urge parties to conflicts to cease military confrontation, and support regional countries and organizations in strengthening cooperation, he said.
