In a significant address to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, China’s Permanent Representative Fu Cong issued a compelling call for international action to safeguard global energy and critical mineral supply chains against escalating disruptions. The ambassador’s urgent appeal comes amid mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have severely compromised maritime transportation routes and raised alarms about worldwide economic stability.
Ambassador Fu highlighted how recurring conflicts in resource-rich regions like the Middle East and Africa have dramatically impaired normal production and transportation operations for essential energy resources and critical minerals. He emphasized that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital corridor for energy shipments from Gulf nations—has become particularly concerning due to recent military activities and security threats.
The Chinese diplomat urged all parties to immediately adhere to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue, and ensure the protection of non-military targets. He specifically stressed the critical importance of maintaining secure and unimpeded navigation routes for global commerce.
Fu presented a comprehensive vision for international cooperation, noting that the global distribution of energy and critical minerals remains ‘highly uneven,’ creating inevitable supply-demand mismatches across nations. He advocated for establishing a fair and transparent global economic and trade order while building an inclusive, open supply chain system that promotes mutually beneficial cooperation and peaceful resource utilization.
The ambassador strongly cautioned against politicizing or securitizing energy and mineral issues, warning against Cold War mentalities and the formation of exclusive blocs with geopolitical motivations. He asserted that global industrial and supply chains represent the natural outcome of economic globalization and market mechanisms, noting that political manipulation or artificial interference would only further destabilize international markets and ultimately backfire on those responsible.
Fu emphasized that countries’ sovereign rights over natural resources must be fully respected, and developing nations should be empowered to leverage their resources for economic advancement rather than being confined to lower-value segments of global supply chains. He called on relevant countries to abandon outdated colonialist approaches, respect other nations’ development paths, and engage in equitable commercial cooperation without resorting to resource exploitation or military coercion.
The ambassador also highlighted China’s leadership role as the world’s largest producer, consumer, and trader of minerals, referencing Beijing’s International Economic and Trade Cooperation Initiative on Green Mining and Minerals announced at last November’s G20 summit in South Africa. This initiative aims to advance sustainable development within the global mining sector while maintaining stable, fair, and mutually beneficial supply chains.