Second, early engagement is only part of the puzzle. We also need to be skilled at what we do. Preventive diplomacy and mediation are complex and increasingly specialized fields, which require expertise in a wide array of areas, some quite technical. We have therefore focused on building up expertise that can be rapidly used and made available to UN envoys, regional organizations and UN member states.

Third, partnerships are key. The crises we face are often too complex for any one organization or member state to address alone. In a world where the nature of conflict has evolved, where terrorism and trans-national crime often intersect with political grievances, partnerships have become all the more important. The UN, under the leadership of the secretary-general, is working ever more closely with regional and sub-regional actors, such as with the League of Arab States on Syria and with the African Union on Somalia and Mali. Our cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides a solid foundation for engaging with this region and we stand ready to work even more closely together.

Fourth, perhaps the most important ingredient for success in preventive diplomacy is leverage. The UN secretary-general commands no battalions and has no treasury. The tools he has at his disposal are largely the power of persuasion, the principles of the UN Charter and the legitimacy that derives from common approach.

These are powerful tools in their own right. They reflect a shared understanding among member states, refined through decades of practice, and are applicable universally. But to be effective, they require that the international community, especially the major global powers, be closely aligned, empowering the secretary-general to speak on behalf of the international community.

In Syria, we see how hard it is to make progress when this unity of purpose is not present. In Mali and Yemen, on the other hand, the international community was able to move quickly to prevent the situations from deteriorating further.

To realize "comprehensive, cooperative and common security", the case for diplomacy - and ideally preventive diplomacy - is compelling and we know that it works. Our experience tells us that if we reach the trouble spots early through skilful diplomatic initiatives, backed by the unified stand of the international community and the necessary resources, and in partnership with regional organizations, we can be successful in either preventing a conflict or keeping it in check.

China is a key actor in this endeavor. Its voice needs to be heard both on specific cases and in general debates about a 21st century approach to these vital global governance issues. This is why this dialogue is so important and why, I hope, it will grow and flourish in the years ahead. We are confident that our partnership with China will contribute to making the world more peaceful, secure and prosperous.

The author is United Nations under-secretary-general for political affairs. The article is an excerpt from a speech that he delivered at a recent conference on "Transformative Global Governance: China and the United Nations".