The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on February 24, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, during China’s presidency of the Council.
According to Ukrinform’s correspondent in New York, newly appointed China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, announced this to journalists on Monday.
“During China’s presidency, there will be a very important anniversary, which is February 24, and this is the day when the conflict in Ukraine started three years ago,” he said.
According to the envoy, some countries have already proposed holding a meeting on that date, and “as a president of the Council, China is obliged to make a proper arrangement according to the rules of procedure and the past practice.”
He added that Russia would likely propose a counter-meeting on a different date.
“And we will also be obliged to arrange that meeting,” he said.
Commenting on China’s peace initiatives on the Russia-Ukraine war, Fu Cong stressed the importance of building “a platform for the Global South to have our voices heard, because this conflict is not only affecting the two countries but it has global ramifications.”
He noted that Global South nations should focus primarily on food and energy security, as well as the safety of maritime transport.
“This is the purpose of the ‘Group of Friends for Peace,'” the Chinese envoy said, referring to a meeting of representatives from 17 countries held on September 27 last year on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
According to Fu Cong, this group plans to hold another meeting in February “to evaluate the current situation.”
“As far as I can see, there are expressions of willingness to have peace negotiations on both sides [Ukraine and Russia]. We do hope this can materialize soon. First, we will evaluate the situation, and secondly, we’ll see if there is a useful role for the platform, for this group to play in order to facilitate this peace dialogue if that happens,” he said.
In a comment to Ukrinform’s correspondent in New York, Fu Cong confirmed that Chinese diplomats are actively coordinating with Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the UN in preparation for the February 24 Security Council meeting.
When asked whether China would continue referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine as the “Ukrainian crisis,” he replied, “I say ‘conflict in Ukraine.'”
Source: China's UN envoy announces Security Council meeting on Feb 24 to mark war anniversary
