China, Britain to enhance peace-keeping cooperation

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said Monday that China will make "concerted efforts" with Britain to enhance peace-keeping cooperation.

Chen Weixiong, counselor of the Foreign Ministry's Department of International Organizations and Conferences, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a seminar on Sino-British peace-keeping actions.

Chen said China and Britain had witnessed "fruitful and effective cooperation" in peace-keeping actions in recent years, and it was especially important for the two countries, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, to increase coordination and cooperation in peace-keeping activities and other UN programs.

According to Chen, more than 65,000 peace keepers from over 100 countries are now working for 16 UN peace-keeping tasks.

"UN peace-keeping missions face increasing demands and challenges," he said.

In order to promote UN peace-keeping actions, Chen said all countries should "maintain dialogue and consultation to achieve positive results in reforms of peace-keeping actions, and should provide financial and personnel support for peace-keeping actions."

British participants at the seminar said Britain and China enjoy the prospect of peace-keeping cooperation, which would help UN peace-keeping actions.

During the two-day seminar, the second of its kind between China and Britain, officials from the two countries will exchange views and share experiences in peace-keeping theories and actions.

Source: Xinhua