Chinese Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi (C, front) speaks after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution aiming to establish a sanctions regime over use of chemicals weapons in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 28, 2017. The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a draft resolution aiming to establish a sanctions regime over use of chemicals weapons in Syria as Russia and China vetoed it. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the UN Thursday called for support for the building of African Standby Force and rapid reaction force, so as to enhance the continent's collection security capacity.
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the world body, made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.
"Somalia has entered a crucial stage of national rebuilding," said Liu, noting that its security and humanitarian situation remains precarious, coupled with rampant terrorism activities and a recent famine.
"Over six million Somalis -- half the total population -- are now in need of assistance. Nearly three million, mainly women and children, require immediate life-saving support,
including growing numbers of displaced people living in miserable conditions," Michael Keating, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia told the meeting.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution in which it extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until June 16, 2017.
The council said in the resolution that that it looked forward to the report of the review of the UN presence in Somalia which had earlier been deferred until the conclusion of the electoral process.
Liu said China welcomed the adoption of a resolution, adding that parts of Africa are facing severe challenges such as continuing conflicts, insufficient development capability as well as fragile humanitarian situation.
He called on all relevant parties to promote the solution of disputes through dialogue and consultation and seek reconciliation.
"The international community needs to nurture a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, support the capacity building of African Standby Force and Africa's rapid reaction force and upgrade Africa's collective capabilities," said Liu, who also called for efforts to strengthen the continent's development capacity so as to achieve lasting stability.
In 2015, China pledged to provide military aid worth 100 million dollars to the African Union for the next five years to support the establishment of African Standby Force and African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis.
