Upholding the international humanitarian law is of great importance in the current international security situation, said Zhang Jun, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at an opening meeting of the UN Security Council on August 13.  

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, which form the core of the international humanitarian law and regulate the conduct of armed conflict.  

However, the current international security situation remains grave. Traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined. Armed conflicts in some regions have prolonged or even escalated, causing serious concern to the international community. "Promoting peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, upholding the international humanitarian law and carrying forward the international humanitarian spirit are of great significance," said Zhang.   

Zhang called on governments and concerned parties to the conflict to earnestly fulfill their obligations under the international humanitarian law. Any violation should be investigated and punished according to law. 

The international community should play a constructive role in helping the relevant parties strengthen capacity building to fulfill their obligations, said Zhang, adding that humanitarian agencies, on the basis of full respect for sovereignty of the countries concerned, should promote humanitarianism, compassion and dedication, and engage in training, legal counseling, technical support and experience sharing. 

The implementation of the international humanitarian law should be strengthened with a focus on enhancing the effectiveness of existing mechanisms of the law, according to Zhang. The continuous development of cyber technologies, artificial intelligence and hi-tech weapons, frequent occurrence of non-international armed conflicts and terrorist attacks pose challenges to the law's implementation. Therefore, the international community should proceed from the practical needs of applying and complying with the law and build on the consensus of countries to reach a broad agreement on addressing current challenges and strengthening implementation, he said.  

Zhang also suggested the Security Council attach importance to tackling the underlying causes of conflicts by addressing both the symptoms and the root causes. Conflict prevention, reduction and resolution and peaceful settlement of disputes are best approaches to upholding the spirit of the international humanitarian law, he said, adding that the Security Council, at the heart of the collective security mechanism, should earnestly fulfill its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and encourage parties to disputes to fulfill their obligations by implementing Security Council resolutions and resolve conflicts through dialogue, consultation and political negotiations. 

China was among the first countries to accede to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.  

Over the years, the Chinese Government has been taking useful and practical measures to implement, study and disseminate the law, including strengthening relevant domestic legislation, conducting training and counseling in the army, and carrying out education and publicity activities in the whole society, said Zhang. 

In 2007, China established the National Committee of International Humanitarian Law to promote its dissemination and implementation. 

"China stands ready to continue to work with all parties to make greater contributions to the development and implementation of the international humanitarian law," Zhang said.