Beijing stresses commitment to peaceful development

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China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at the core of its interests and the Chinese military always sticks to the path of peaceful development, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe said on Monday.

Wei made the remarks while meeting with a visiting delegation comprised of permanent representatives of the UN Security Council members in Beijing.

Today's world needs multilateralism and a strong UN more than before, he noted, stressing that China firmly upholds the UN's central role in international affairs.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe (3rd R) meets with a delegation comprised of permanent representatives of the UN Security Council members in Beijing, November 26, 2018. /Photo via MOD.gov.cn

China has always been committed to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, he added.

The defense minister said Beijing is willing to work with other countries to enhance cooperation in fields such as international peacekeeping, creating a secure pattern of fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits, and contributing towards building a community with a shared future for humanity as well as safeguarding both global and regional peace and stability.

Francois Delattre, France's permanent representative to the UN, and Taye Atske Selassie Made, permanent representative of Ethiopia to the UN, said on behalf of the delegation that all the countries appreciate China's role in international affairs and hope Beijing can play a greater role.

A group of 165 Chinese peacekeepers prepare to leave for South Sudanese capital, Juba from Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province, September 11, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with the delegation on Monday, stressing that China is willing to work with other members of the UN Security Council to tackle global challenges and safeguard multilateralism.

Wang said he hopes the visit will help the members of the UN Security Council get a better understanding of China's development path and its progress since the reform and opening-up policy was implemented 40 years ago.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on issues including the role of the UN under the current international situation, and China's cooperation with the international body.

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As the rotating chair of the UN Security Council for November, China has invited permanent representatives of all member states and the member states-elect of the UN Security Council, the main troop contributing countries of the UN peacekeeping operations and senior officials of the UN Secretariat for a visit from Sunday to Wednesday.

The delegation will also visit China's peacekeeping standby force and travel to its southern province of Guangdong.

(CGTN's Su Yuting contributed to the story.)

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe (6th R) meets with a delegation comprised of permanent representatives of the UN Security Council members in Beijing, November 26, 2018. /Photo via MOD.gov.cn)