Africa peacekeeping talks start

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to strengthen cooperation and boost its commitment to peacekeeping during an open debate at the Security Council on Tuesday in New York.

"Peacekeeping is a remarkable exercise in global solidarity. UN peacekeepers are ready to pay the ultimate price for peace, and we are all in their debt," Guterres said.

He spoke during a debate on strengthening peacekeeping operations in Africa, initiated by China as rotating president of the council for the month of November.

"Africa is a continent full of dynamism and promise," said Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the UN. "The African Union and (African) countries are important forces for the maintenance of world peace and regional stability.

"China initiated this open debate on peacekeeping operations in Africa to increase the international community's attention to, and input in, the course of peace and security in Africa, and effectively assisted the AU and African countries in bolstering the capability to build peace and security," he said.

Guterres thanked China for convening the debate and for "China's contributions to UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and around the world".

"Some 2,500 uniformed Chinese personnel, including well-trained and equipped police units, are making an important contribution to multilateral efforts for peace," Guterres said.

"I welcome President Xi Jinping's pledge to establish a peacekeeping standby force, and I hope it builds on the 13 units that have already been registered," he added.

Guterres said that Africa hosts seven of the 14 UN peacekeeping missions and more than 80 percent of peacekeepers worldwide.

African countries provide nearly half of UN blue helmets deployed around the world, including almost two-thirds of all female peacekeepers and the majority of UN police officers.

Ma said the "Chinese government and people have consistently supported African countries and the continent's people in their pursuit of peaceful development and prosperity".

Ma said China decided "to establish the China-Africa peace and security fund to support peacekeeping cooperation, (and) will continue to provide military assistance to the AU for its peace operations".