Press Conference: Ambassador Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of May 2026 Press Conferences Date: 1 May 2026 Language: Floor (Original) Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/fr/asset/k1a/k1aklnvnvn?lang=floor Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [0:02]: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this briefing. My name is Lee Zhiming. I'm the spokesperson at the Chinese mission. As you already know, China today assumes the Security Council presidency for the month of May. We are very delighted to invite His Excellency Ambassador Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China, to the UN to deliver with you the program of work of the Security Council. After that, we will open questions for the follow. Ambassador Fu is joined by Mr. Tengfei, the political political coordinator at the Chinese mission. Now, Ambassador Fu, the floor. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [0:49]: Dear friends from the press, good morning all good afternoon. Now there's five minutes to 12. And welcome to this briefing on China's presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. It is a great honor for China to assume the presidency of the Security Council, and we will discharge our duties with a strong sense of responsibility and a constructive approach. We are committed to promoting solidarity and the cooperation of the Council so that it will play a positive role in safeguarding international peace and security. This morning, the council has adopted the program of work for May. And now I'm pleased to brief you on our plans and the priorities for the months ahead. Our first priority is to revitalize the authority of the UN Charter and the role of the United Nations. The UN stands as a defining achievement. of the victory in the world anti-fascist war. It is a peace endeavor in which nations across the world have invested tremendous efforts. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter provide the fundamental guidance for international relations and form the cornerstone of the post-war international order. In recent years, we are witnessing growing turbulence in the international landscape. Conflicts are increasing. Divisions are widening. And the multilateral system along with international law, is under considerable strain. All these happened not because the UN is outdated or the UN has failed, On the contrary, it is because the purposes and the principles of the charter are not effectively upheld. And the UN centered international system is not earnestly maintained. The international community must take urgent actions to uphold the authority of the Charter and strengthen the role of the United Nations. so as to prevent our world from relapsing into the lure of the jungle. And as the charter puts it, to save succeeding generations from scourge of war. In this context, China will convene a high level open debate on May 26th under the theme of upholding the purposes and the principles of the UN charter and strengthening the UN centered international system. This open debate will be presided over by His Excellency, Mr. Wang Yi member of the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. We hope this meeting will offer an opportunity for countries to jointly reaffirm their commitment to the Charter's purposes and principles, revitalizing the central role of the UN, in the international system, and support this organization in keeping pace with time so that it can better address global challenges and build a better world. Our second priority is to advance the political settlement of the Middle East issue. This part of the world is where most of the hotspot issues happen, and it has always been high on the Council's agenda. In May, the Security Council will hold regular briefings on the Middle East, on Syria, on Lebanon. Given the continued tensions and their spillover effects on regional stability and the global economy, the council must remain seized of the developments. We must urge the relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint. Bring an end to the fighting. Resolve disputes through diplomatic means. And work towards de escalation. The Palestinian question remains at the heart of the Middle East issue. The situation in Gaza and the West Bank remains deeply concerning. And the foundation of the two state solution is being eroded. The Security Council must urge the relevant parties, Israel in particular, to fully observe the Gaza ceasefire agreement ensure humanitarian access, stop settlement activities, and the work to revitalize the prospect of the two stage solution. Regarding Lebanon, the situation remains very volatile and fragile. I want to emphasize that attacks on civilians and the UN peacekeepers and the UN peacekeepers are unacceptable. The Security Council must send a clear message in support of Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. We must promote a cessation of hostilities and support the Lebanese government in stabilizing the domestic situation and guaranteeing people's basic livelihood. On Syria, the country is at a critical juncture for political reconciliation, rebuilding and development. The Security Council should support Syria in maintaining national stability advancing political transition, improving people's well being, and taking more forceful measures to eliminate the threat of terrorism. Our third priority will be the stability and the development of African countries. Hotspot issues on this continent also have always been high on the Council's agenda. This month, the Security Council will hold regular briefings on UNISFA, on ICC Libya, and take actions on the monitoring of arms in embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya, as well as sanctions related to South Sudan. During China's presidency, the council will maintain its focus on Africa and support efforts in resolving African issues in African ways. We encourage dialogue and consultation among relevant parties, to ease tensions and resolve disputes. At the same time, we call on the international community to scale up humanitarian and development support to help the countries concerned. strengthen their capacity for self driven development, and address the root causes of conflict. This month, the Security Council will also hold its annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In light of ongoing conflicts around the world, we hope this meeting will help revitalize the authority of international law. Facilitate the end of armed conflict. Strengthen humanitarian efforts. And provide better protection for civilians who are caught in conflicts. In addition, this month, the Council will hold a debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope the relevant discussion will help the parties conduct constructive dialogue and seek an inclusive solution for safeguarding political and social stability. The council will also hold consultations on the 17th 1718 committee. And we will remain attentive to the developments of other issues and stand ready to act as needed. Last but not the least, China's For China's presidency, we will focus on improving the work of the council. China believes that solidarity and cooperation are essential to the effective work of the Security Council. And the rotating president has a special role in making that happen. We commend the work done by Bahrain as the president last month. Now that the baton is in our hand, we will continue to uphold fairness and transparency in the Council's work. And we will conduct broad engagement and close coordination and communication on all agenda items and strive for the broadest possible consensus. We will remain action oriented, focusing on key issues and responding to the to the expectations of the international community with concrete actions. We will also, as appropriate, invite civil society representatives to contribute their perspectives. And of course, we will maintain close communication with the media to ensure transparency of the council's work. That's the end of my opening remarks. Now I'm ready to take questions. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [10:55]: Thank you, Ambassador Fu, for your thorough introduction. Now we'll get to the Q&A session. Before we start, we just reminder that Please just introduce yourself and the organization you represent. And we will follow tradition and leave the first question to the anchor. Elise, AP · UNCA · Edith Lederer [11:14]: Please. Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador. on behalf of the United Nations Correspondents Association for doing this briefing. You mentioned transparency. We hope that you will come and speak to us every day that the council needs. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [11:33]: I'll try my best. AP · Edith Lederer [11:35]: My name is Edith Lederer from the Associated Press. My question is obviously, one of the major issues which the Security Council has been touching on, trying to deal with, is the war in Iran and the current ceasefire. Can you tell us what is China's role in ceasefire negotiations? How active has it been? And what is China prepared to do to get the Strait of Hormuz open? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [12:19]: Thank you. Thank you for the question. Let me first say that I think before explaining China's role in this, we need to be very clear that this this situation, the root cause of this situation, is the illegitimate war by the US and Israel against Iran. And this war has wrought tremendous sufferings in Iran for the Iranian people and the neighboring countries. And it has an its ramification and runs far and wide. And in particular, the close of Hormuz. And is actually wreaking havoc in the oil market and in the economy of the entire world, in particular in the global south. So China's view is that we need to open the the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible. And that actually actually applies to both sides. Iran needs to lift its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, and the US need to lift its naval blockade. And I think that is something that we want to say. And in our view, the most urgent issue is to keep the cease fire. And the cease fire need to last. And there has to be a good faith negotiation between the two sides. Frankly speaking, we are very concerned about some of the remarks we have been hearing recently about this ceasefire being temporary, about the need to to initiate another round of attack. I think the international community should be mobilized and raise our voices against the resumption of fighting in that part of the world. And yeah, China's role. Sorry. China's role, yes. Indeed, China has been advocating for peace. And we are talking to all sides. And our foreign minister has been on the phone almost constantly. And and we are also fully behind the support the the efforts of Pakistan in facilitating and mediating between the parties. We do hope that these efforts can can give positive results. Thank you. XINHUA · Yun Zhao Pan [15:00]: Thank you. Thank you Mr. Ambassador. My name is Yun Zhao Pan from Xinhua News Agency. Thank you for doing this briefing and congratulations to you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. While the conflict between Palestine and Israel continues, the Security Council Council's attention seems to have decreased because much of the attention has diverted to the situation surrounding Iran. So my question is, as the president of the Security Council for May, does China have any plan to take any concrete actions to push forward the solution of the Palestinian issue? Thank you. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [15:49]: Thank you for the question. Indeed, the Palestinian issue lies at the very heart of the Middle East issue and is also the source of the ongoing tensions in the region. So this question should not be neglected. So as a rotating president of of the Security Council, we will make every effort to make sure that the Palestinian issue is high on the agenda of the Security Council. And concerning the situation, at present, the situation on the ground is deeply concerning. In Gaza, we are seeing continued bombardment and attacks and the humanitarian crisis that keeps worsening. We have seen, we have read in the media, the the material for shelter is being blocked by the Israelis. And also in the West Bank, tensions are also high. And these tensions are marked by expanding settlements and increasing settlers violence. We're very concerned about the situation there. And so the pressing task right now is to consult consolidate the ceasefire and to protect civilian lives and ease tension in the West Bank. For decades, repeated cycles of conflict between Palestine and Israel have caused too much suffering to people on both sides and to the wider region. The denial of the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights is the greatest injustice. of our times. This must stop. And for that to happen, we need to stick to the two state solution as the only viable path forward. any arrangement or new mechanism, we're talking about Bordeaux Pays and other mechanisms, any new mechanism should reinforce rather than undermine the prospect of the two state solution. So China will place the Palestinian question high on the Security Council's agenda, and together with other council members, we will make active efforts to advance a comprehensive, just, and a lasting solution to the Palestinian question, to achieve the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel, and to realize lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. And in that connection, I may take this opportunity to share with you that according to the Security Council Resolution 2803, the Board of Peace is is required to come up with the original report by mid May. So we are hoping that they can come up with that report. If that happens, some members of the Security Council have said that that there needs to be there can be a hearing or briefing at the Security Council to discuss that report. Because according to the 2803, the Security Council has the mandate to to to supervise and to oversee and monitor the activities of BOP. So we hope that we can have that briefing. PASSBLUE · Tamilala [19:19]: Thank you. Could you talk a little bit more about what China is doing regarding what China would. I know you spoke about it, but if you could talk a little bit more on the Strait of Hormuz. And oops, sorry. Thank you. Hi, Tamilala from PassBlue. Um if you could talk a little bit more on the straight of almost and on the SG selection race. Thank you. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [19:54]: Uh the the straight of almost I think as I said, now the the most pressing issue is to to make sure the ceasefire continues and that the two sides negotiate, resume the negotiations in good faith. And to make sure that the grounds is laid for the reopening of Hormuz. And as I said, that requires both sides, both Iran and the United States, to to take actions or to take measures to stop some of their current actions. And on the selection of Secretary General, indeed, that is one of the most consequential issues of the latter part of the year for all the membership of the United Nations. And I think the process has started. We have had this interactive dialogue by the four candidates. And yeah, the there may be more candidates coming out. And as far as the Security Council is concerned, under our presidency, we will try to come up with a modality for the selections, for the selection of the Security Council within us for the for the selection of the SG within the framework of the Security Council. That means whether we're going to have also hearings among the members of the Security Council, and then the modalities for the for the straw poll and things like that. So we will initiate this consultation among the members of the Security Council very early on in our presidency. And we hope that during our, presidency, as some modality can be agreed upon by the members of the secret council, so as the the work can can really start in earnest in June or July. CCTV · Tao Xu [21:55]: Thank you. This is Tao Xu with China Central Television. Mr. Ambassador, we have noted that the Security Council will hold a high level open debate on upholding the UN China charter and strengthening the UN centered international system this month. So could you share a bit more about the thinking behind this meeting and what key issues you hope will be addressed? Thank you. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [22:18]: Thank you. Thank you for that question. That gives me an opportunity to further elaborate on our thinking behind our signature event. This is going to be the only signature event we're going to have. And of course, it is the biggest highest priority for for our mission. And the reason we we are proposing this event is as follows. In our view, as we all know, the United Nations was born out of the ashes of the two world wars, and stands as a major victorious outcome of the world anti-fascist war. Its charter embodies humanity's shared aspiration for peace and development, and provides the fundamental guidance for managing international relations. So over the past eight decades, the UN, the International System centered around it and the international order based on international law have made indispensable contributions to world peace and development. Today, however, this architecture is facing serious challenges. There are more than 60 armed conflicts taking place as we speak across the world. The highest number since the end of the World War II. Trust among major countries is lacking, raising the risk of dangerous miscalculations. I think the Iran war is the the biggest example of this. The rise of unilateralism, power politics, and some bullying practice by certain powers are dealing heavy blows to the rule of law in the international affairs. And as momentum for multilateral cooperation forters, deficits in global governance continue to widen. So in the face of these pressing challenges, some choose to question or even deny the role of the UN and its target. We heard so much criticism against the UN, and also the UN is now faced with the danger of being marginalized. So in our view, this will only bring us back to a world where might makes right. So we do believe that we must bear in mind that what we have today have not come by easily and should not be taken for granted. The victory of the world anti-fascist war must be cherished. The UN centered international system must be upheld. The international order underpinned by the international law must be defended, and the basic norms of international relations grounded in the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter must be safeguarded. And actually, this has a lot to do with what kind of secretary general we're going to select for the next 5 or 10 years. It is in this context that China has proposed this open debate. We hope that through the discussion, member states will renew their commitment to the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter, revitalize the central role of the UN in its international system, and the Rita Bolo efforts to jointly promote world peace and development. So these are the basic considerations behind our proposition, that we need to have a high level open debate on how to uphold the UN Charter and support the role of the UN at the center of the international order. Thank you. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [26:13]: Bissan. ALJAZEERA · Bissan Abukwik [26:15]: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador Bissan Abukwik with Al Jazeera Arabic. So President Trump has an upcoming visit to China as of now. How does this war and if the Strait of Hormuz, which you call among other countries and parties across the world, to reopen the Strait, how does if it continues to be closed, how will this overshadow and complicate conversations that President Trump will have in China when he visits Beijing? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [26:47]: I'm sure if the Hormuz is still closed by the time President Trump goes to China, this issue will be high on the agenda of the bilateral talk. And of course, the bilateral relationship between China and the US goes far beyond the issue of homeless. And I think it is in the interest of both countries and both peoples. And I may say for the entire world of of the people of the entire world, that China and the US maintain steady and sound and sustainable relationship. And yes, in our belief, if the two sides can show mutual respect and can stick to the principle of peaceful coexistence. And the win win cooperation, the this bilateral relationship can can prosper. And as we often say, that the world is big enough to accommodate both China and the United States. It doesn't have to be a zero sum game between the two countries. So the two sides, as far as I know, now here in New York, as far as I know, the two sides are making preparations for this historic visit. And we do hope that this visit will materialize. And and also here, also by extension, I want to say that here at the United Nations, we do believe that China and the US have a lot to work on. And there is broad space for us to to cooperate. And we are both the permanent members of the Security Council. We are both the Victoria power of the Second World War. And we are both the the founding members of the United Nations. So it is incumbent upon both China and the United States to help maintain the international order and to support the role of the UN. And as the biggest financial contributors of the of the organization, and there are a lot of commonalities in the position positions in how the UN is run. Of course, I also hasten to add that the UN is for all member states. So no big power should adopt this approach that that the interests of that big country should be put above the interests of the entire membership. But there are things that we do believe that China and US can work together. Speaker 17 [29:40]: Ambassador, you can Probably tell Chinese me there. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [29:45]: Sorry. PHOENIX TV · Ying Tian [29:46]: Yes, it's Ying Tian from Hong Kong Phoenix TV. My question is about Iran as well. So the US is asking China to play a big role on Iran. But meanwhile, US is sanctioning Chinese oil companies and shipping companies for supporting Iran. So what's your response on that? And like this crisis has been spilled over around the region on the oil market and on food. So as the president of the Security Council, how would you prevent this spillover of the crisis? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [30:17]: Yes, first on the sanction of Chinese ships. And that's why we do believe it is important that both sides, both around the US, leave their embargoes and restrictions on the access to the to the Strait of Hormuz. And we don't believe that it's fair to sanction Chinese ships or companies. And it is illegitimate. And so on the how to alleviate the the difficulties of the global south, let me say this. We support the secretary general's initiative and the the role of the secretariat and Mr. Arnold that's his name and we have a personal envoy and also Mr.. da Silva right and they are in my understanding they're working behind the scenes very busily and traveling the region. And hoping to have some sort of a mechanism that can allow what is most needed, that have a direct bearing on the humanitarian concerns of countries and also in the fertilizer and and everything else that can alleviate the suffering of countries, in particular the Global South, that some kind of arrangement can come out of their efforts. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [31:42]: Okay. Kristen? Kristen [31:48]: Well, you just touched on my question about support for the SG's initiative. So I'll take it to the next level in terms of, realistically, what the Security Council can do to open up the Strait of Hormuz and the humanitarian corridor there. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [32:11]: You're asking what kind of security kind of Kristen [32:15]: Yeah Where I'm sorry, where is it that the US and China can cooperate realistically, do you think? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [32:25]: Well, actually, for us, we don't want to see this straightaway almost open. And as I said, it requires both sides around the US to to appeal, to heed the appeals of the international community. And we'll try our best to work on our American friends, how much influence we can have, I'm not sure. But well, you see what the US officials have been saying, that's why some of the remarks were quite worrying and concerning. They keep talking about this cease fire being temporary, and there might be the resumption of new military strikes. If that happens, then everything that we're talking about, the opening of the of the strait and the passage of the humanitarian cargoes and all these things may be put into jeopardy. So, well, the Security Council can only do what it can do. with the people. And we will continue to work on the relevant countries. We do hope that peace can prevail. And we do hope that an agreement between the two sides can reach That's why I emphasize the two sides need to engage in good faith negotiation so as to find a lasting solution. Thank you. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [33:46]: Alexey? RIA Novosti · Alexei [33:50]: Thank you so much, Ambassador. Alexei, with Russia, we are Novasty News Agency. And the best of luck for this busy month. I will follow up on this election on the next Secretary General. Does China have a preferred candidate month before? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [34:03]: If we had, I will not tell you. But we do have some criteria for the next SG. We do believe that the the UN is at a very critical juncture. We need a strong SG that is who is really committed to multilateralism, to enhance enhancing the role of the UN and not to be too much aligned to the policies of one single superpower. And yes, the we do need someone who can stand up for the principle. And also, we want to see someone who actually is will support the three pillars of the United Nations, peace and security, development and human rights. In particular, the development sector should not be neglected. And although it is a cliche, but I want to repeat this. Without development, you cannot have sustainable peace. I think that is a tourism that needs repeating. And yes, we we want to see we we want to we are supportive of the geographical rotation. And also we want we also be happy to see a lady SG, female SG, and it has been 80 years. And so if we can have the female SG, China will be very happy to see. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [35:44]: I'm sure you have many more questions to ask, but we have already read about 10 questions. And you know that today is really a big Day for The ambassador. And there is another even following the conference. Therefore, another last two questions, I think. Farnoush? Yeah. AP · Farnoush [36:04]: Thank you, Ambassador Farnish Shamiri with the Associated Press. Appreciate you doing this. I wanted to you mentioned that you have similar concerns that the US has with the UN about reform, but that you really want to underscore how important the institution is, and you support it. Can you talk a little bit about how China has jumped in to fill the gaps that the US is leaving, especially in development, humanitarian aid? Is there a future where China is the biggest donor to the UN? Is that what you guys are working towards? China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [36:43]: Well, let me say this. China is already the de facto number one financial contributor to the regular budget. even though in nominal terms, the US is number one, but they're not paying. So China is already a de facto number one. And secondly, China has been supporting the un development pillar for decades. It's not that the US is withdrawing, China is filling the gap. No, that is not true. We have been supporting the UN and a lot of funds have been set up to support the UN. And we are doing you don't need me to to to tell you that China has been supporting the Global South countries in their development. I think you can go to each and every African country will see how much China has helped the the African countries to develop their economies, and in terms of the technologies. And so But China is not filling up. But if the US withdraws, of course other countries need to step up. And China will be happy to step up. Let me make that point clear. And so it's for the US to decide. And we do believe as I said, this is not a zero sum game between China and the US. We want to contribute more to the UN. We also want the United States to contribute more to the UN. In the same token, we want the European countries to continue their support. Actually, I sometimes feel sad that some of the European countries are also reducing their aid assistance and development assistance. That is something that we don't think is correct. But you can rest assured, China will continue our support for the UN. We're continue to to support our brothers and sisters in the Global South. And as much as we can, as China grows, the ability of China to help these countries will also grow and will continue to do that. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [38:50]: Okay. I think that we should lay you for the backside please. Yeah. AL ARABI TV · Nabil Abi Saab [38:55]: Thank you. Nabil Abi Saab Al Arabi TV station. Mr. Ambassador, you mentioned Lebanon. I would like to ask you about your position on the situation in southern Lebanon after the end or expiration of the UNIFIL's mandate. What's your position on this? And also, we have seen multiple exchange of views between China and the US around the Security Council table on the cooperation, military cooperation with Iran. Could you please explain what's your position on the military cooperation between China and Iran? Thank you. China · Permanent Representative · Fu Cong [39:47]: First, on Lebanon, on the UNIFIL, indeed, we are very concerned about what's happening in Lebanon. Actually, people say that there is no ceasefire. There's even a new term which is lessifier. So it's not a real ceasefire. We do want to see a real ceasefire prevail. And I think it is incumbent on Israel to to stop its bombardment of Lebanon. And in terms of the UNIFIL, yes, we we do believe that it is we should revisit the decision actually to withdraw the UNIFIL. And actually the other day I had a discussion with the Secretary General. We know that the the secretariat is is thinking about some review and the plan as to according to the resolution, the resolution of 2790, the the secretary secretariat is going to come up in June with options for the future of the implementation of 1701. So I know that the secretariat is working on this. And I think, at least, the view of the overwhelming majority of the Security Council is that this is not the time to really to to withdraw the UNIFIL out of the out of that part of the country. And we'll be waiting for the for the report from the secretariat before we take our position. Oh, Iran, yes. Well, there is no military cooperation between China and Iran. And we know that some of the the allegations from some of the US officials, they were they were false. But we we are very sympathetic to what the Iranian people are enduring, which actually the, the as I said, the illegitimate war that was that is imposed on on the people. And we do hope that we are trying our best to see to an end to the fighting, and as much as we can. China · Spokesperson · Lee Zhiming [42:15]: Many thanks once again, Ambassador. We just appreciate it for your time. Thank you. Gentlemen, this just concludes today's briefing. Have a good day.