A senior United Nations official on Wednesday praised China's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions and underscored the Beijing Xiangshan Forum's role in advancing dialogue, calling the forum's spirit of multilateralism "absolutely evident" in its approach.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who is attending the ongoing forum in Beijing, highlighted the significance of UN peacekeeping operations and commended China's commitment to these missions in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the event.
"The peacekeeping operations are playing a critical role in several areas. They are protecting civilians. I should say tens of thousands of civilians are protected every single day by peacekeepers. And they are preventing ceasefires from unraveling, from collapsing. Of course, that is critically important because if you have a ceasefire not in place anymore, then there is no way that the political efforts towards a long-lasting political settlement can be pursued. So, this is the key reason why it's critical, and we are all very grateful to China for the provision of very professional peacekeepers -- men and women in many missions, as well as the provision of funds," Lacroix said.
He also praised the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which he said was a strong platform for promoting dialogue.
"In terms of promoting dialogue, the UN multilateralism is about dialogue; it's about striving to achieve solving differences through peaceful means, and of course a peaceful means is dialogue and trying to bridge the difference without resorting to violence. I think from that point of view, it is very clear that the commonality of approach between what the UN represents - multilateralism - and the spirit of dialogue here in the Xiangshan Forum is absolutely evident to me," he said.
For over 20 years since its founding, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has played an important role in building consensus on security, promoting defense cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability.
Running from Tuesday to Thursday, this year's forum has drawn official representatives, scholars, experts and observers from almost 100 countries, regions and international organizations.
UN official praises China's peacekeeping role, Xiangshan Forum's spirit of multilateralism
