(March 22,2005)

Mr. Chairman,

Rear Admiral Parry,

Dear colleagues,

The China-UK Peace Support Operations Seminar is coming to an end. Over the past two days, in a business-like manner, officials and experts from China and the UK have had profound exchange of views on all aspects of peacekeeping operations. The Seminar is successful. We have achieved tangible results, as reflected in the following three areas:

First, we have come to realize that, faced with the increasingly complex international situations, UN is indispensable in conflict resolution, and to strengthen the capacity of UN peacekeeping operations is all the more urgent. In this regard, such ideas as enhancing the UN quick response and rapid deployment capacity, improving mission planning and strengthening civil-military cooperation are all thought-provoking. I recall that in June 2000, when the first China-UK PKO seminar was held in Beijing, our UK friends introduced a new term from the vocabulary, which was Peace Support Operations. This time, our UK colleagues again further elaborated on this. We highly appreciate that. The UN is now working on standard peacekeeping terminology. The UK effort is much worthwhile and would open a new window for the UN peacekeeping operations.

Second, we have come to know that, in resolving conflicts, external factors are important while internal factors play a decisive role. We have analyzed future international strategic environment and main challenges faced by peacekeeping operations. We all agree that the will of the people in conflicting regions should be respected with a view to achieving success of peacekeeping operations. One needs to tackle both symptoms and root causes, addressing the origin of the conflicts. The international community should strengthen preventive diplomacy to help those in armed conflicts to turn swords into ploughs. What we ask for is sustainable peace, sustainable security and sustainable development.

Third, though China and the UK are far away from each other, common responsibilities and interests reduce our geographical distance to zero. Being permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK have unique responsibilities for maintaining world peace and security. It is at this seminar that we have identified more common grounds and much broader areas for mutual cooperation.

Dear colleagues,

There is an ancient Chinese saying going like this: a thousand miles journey starts at the first step. To build the skyscraper of the China-UK all-round strategic partnership and that of world peace and development, we need to add bricks and tiles. For such purpose, this seminar is just like a brick or a tile. This is exactly what we need to do. Let us continue our work together.

Last, I wish you all a pleasant journey back home and look forward to seeing you again.

Thank you.