On March 3, Ambassador Li Baodong, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for March, chaired a Security Council consultation of the whole on the situation in Sudan. During the consultation, Council members were briefed by Mr. Khare, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. They also exchanged views on the security situation in Abyei and southern Sudan. Based on the consensus reached among Council members, Ambassador Li Baodong issued a press statement after the meeting.