New York, 1 August 2022 (TDI): Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN will assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August. The official will also decide on the Council’s programme of work for the month.

China at UNSC

Ten of the fifteen seats on the UN Security Council are held by rotating members serving two‐year terms. China last held the rotating presidency in May 2021.

In its previous term at the presidency, the country expressed its “first priority” as upholding the multilateral system with the UN at the core. For years China has been pushing for UN reform even while upholding the global body’s central role in the international system.

During his speech at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping also declared, “We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core.”

Subsequently, China has positioned itself as a champion for the equitable representation of the developing world. It has branded its approach to reform as the democratization of the international system.

The country has announced to work on reducing carbon emissions for the 2022 presidency. Delegates will be allowed to wear business-casual attire to formal meetings to save energy.

Presidency of the Security Council

When the UN was first created, the President’s role was largely procedural in nature. Today, the President’s ability to introduce thematic issues into the Council’s monthly programme of work with the consent of Council members has given the President a greater substantive role as well.

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