UNITED NATIONS - Participants at a UN Security Council high-level meeting on "upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system" reached important consensus on Tuesday on revitalizing and strengthening the United Nations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in recent times, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter have been disregarded, the basic norms governing international relations undermined, and global peace and security hung in the balance. At this critical juncture, the Security Council must step forward and shoulder its responsibilities, he added.

Wang noted that China's initiative to convene the meeting received positive responses from countries around the world. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with foreign ministers of over 20 nations and representatives from various countries, gathered to reaffirm the founding mission of the United Nations, and engaged in lively and in-depth discussions centered on upholding, revitalizing and strengthening the organization.

There is broad consensus that the UN Charter remains as relevant as ever, serving as the cornerstone of the international order, and that the central role of the United Nations must be strengthened rather than weakened.

The participants agreed that the world must uphold a single system -- the international system centered on the United Nations, and abide by a single set of rules -- the basic norms governing international relations, founded upon the Charter.

It was also widely agreed that the United Nations must enhance its operational capacity to fulfill its mandate more effectively, and the Security Council, in particular, must shoulder its primary responsibility for maintaining peace and play its due role in crisis management. Moreover, UN agencies must undergo timely reforms to respond more effectively to the concerns of the international community.

It is agreed that the trend of world multipolarization is unstoppable, and it is no longer in line with the times for one or a few countries to dominate international affairs. The participants stressed the need to firmly follow the path of multilateralism, and maintain unity to the greatest extent, oppose division, seek cooperation, resist confrontation, and jointly inject much-needed stability and certainty into the world.

ALSO READ: China calls for stronger global support for GGI and UN

The Security Council high-level meeting was convened at the initiative of China, the rotating president of the Security Council for May, and attended by representatives from over 100 countries, including more than 20 foreign ministers and high-level delegates. The UN secretary-general delivered a briefing on the current international situation.

China's contributions to UN cause

At the meeting of the Security Council, the Chinese foreign minister briefed on his country's contributions to the UN cause. 

"Amid international turbulence and transformation, China holds its banner high," he pointed out.

China's important vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four major global initiatives have gained widespread international support, he said.

Amid frequent global conflicts, China promotes peace and encourages talks. China practices its unique way of resolving hot-spot issues, including establishing the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis on the UN platform, constantly contributing Chinese wisdom and efforts to maintaining world peace, said Wang.

The Global Development Initiative has mobilized over $23 billion of funds, supported over 1,800 cooperation projects, delivered up to 10,000 capacity-building programs for developing countries, and trained over 200,000 professionals in different fields, he noted. "This has given a strong boost to the development of the Global South," he added.

ALSO READ: Envoy: China supports UN as main channel for global AI governance

China earnestly fulfills its financial obligations as the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget. China has set up and made good use of the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, he said.

Rejection of unilateralism bypassing UN Security Council

Asked at a press encounter on China's proposal to help the Security Council better carry out its mission, Wang called on the international community to reject all kinds of unilateral actions that circumvent the UN Security Council.

Wang said the council remains at the core of the international collective security mechanism and bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security through more than 80 years of changes and challenges.

"At the same time, we need to admit that in recent years, on major hot-spot issues, the Security Council has at times been absent. So in order to reinvigorate the UN, we need to first reinvigorate the Security Council," Wang told reporters.

China's position on qualifications for next UN chief

Outlining China's position regarding the qualifications required for the next UN secretary-general, he said the next secretary-general will have a bearing on the future of UN reform and the practical interests of UN member states.

"China believes that the next secretary-general should at least meet the following qualifications. First, to be firmly committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Second, to have rich diplomatic and political experience and strong coordination capability. Third, to be able to uphold justice on major issues, in particular, to pay attention to the interests and aspirations of developing countries. Fourth, to be able to keep the UN reform on the right track to increase efficiency and effectiveness," said Wang.

READ MORE: China calls for upholding UN Charter, international rule of law

"To sum up, commitment to the UN Charter; outstanding competency; integrity and impartiality; and initiative to take responsibility and deliver," he said. "Going forward, China will work with others and take a responsible attitude to participate in the selection process of the next secretary-general."