China assumes presidency of UN Security Council

China will focus on helping effect a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, ensure humanitarian aid flows to Palestinians, and push for a political settlement based on a two-state solution, China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, said as the country assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Report informs via the South China Morning Post.

The one-month term in the rotating presidency comes as the council faces growing pressure to bring an end to the Middle East crisis—or even agree on a unified stance—amidst sharpening criticism that the body is partisan, costly, and ineffective in an increasingly unstable world.

Zhang Jun told reporters in a briefing on Wednesday that his country was “not that influential” in the region but would do its best.

“We want to stop the conflict, we want to see this ceasefire to be realized, we want to have fewer people killed and fewer casualties,” Zhang said. “And we do not have any private interest in that region … But we are on the side of peace, and we are on the side of justice.”

Zhang also said China’s council presidency would focus on working with other member states on trouble spots Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Ukraine.