China on Wednesday called on UN Security Council members to "strengthen unity and cooperation, build broader consensus and improve the council's working methods" so it can more effectively fulfill its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting on working methods, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the effectiveness of the council bears directly on the authority and credibility of the UN as well as the prospects for international peace and security.
"Working methods are an important safeguard for the Security Council in fulfilling its responsibilities and have never been merely a technical issue," Fu said, adding that they should be continuously improved from the broader perspective of maintaining international peace and security.
Fu stressed that unity and cooperation should remain at the heart of the council's work. Whether dealing with substantive or procedural matters, council members should "respect one another, engage in full consultations, properly manage differences and make every effort to seek consensus".
Fu warned against pushing draft resolutions to a vote when major disagreements remain. "Forcing a vote on draft resolutions when significant disagreements still exist not only deepens divisions within the council, but also greatly weakens the political weight and effectiveness of the resolutions themselves," Fu said.
