UNITED NATIONS - China will perform its duties in a "fair and pragmatic" way when it assumes the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in March, working together with other council members to maintain international peace and security, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN said on Thursday evening in New York.

"China will adhere to the principle of being fair, neutral, pragmatic, and efficient in the work of the council so as to maintain international peace and security in an effective manner," said Li Baodong, China's permanent representative to the UN.

Li said that according to the current provisional program of work, the council will review the situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, among others in March.

The council will also hold an open debate, proposed by China, on March 10 to explore ways "to hammer out a comprehensive strategy to promote a proper solution to the question of Somalia," said Li after his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to exchange views on the work of the council.

In January, during the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the council reiterated their concern over the continued instability and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Somalia, reaffirming their support for the Djibouti Agreement - which ends in August - as the basis for a resolution to the conflict in Somalia and reiterating their full support to the Transitional Federal Government in its efforts to achieve peace, security and reconciliation.

The Presidency of the UN Security Council is held in turn by the members of the council, in the English alphabetical order of their names, for one calendar month. China last held the presidency of the council in January 2010.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/25/2011 page2)