28 April 2025
President:
I thank High Commissioner Grandi for his briefing. The UNHCR has been committed to providing assistance to millions of refugees in conflict-torn areas for a long time. China respects this and will continue to support the UNHCR in advancing its noble humanitarian cause. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the work of High Commissioner Grandi in the past few years.
At present, the international situation is complex and turbulent, geopolitical tensions are high, unilateral bullying continues, and the world economy is under attack. Against this background, the global refugee situation is becoming increasingly severe and the challenges are becoming more prominent. According to the UNHCR report, nearly 130 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and the relevant figure has risen for 12 consecutive years. It is heartbreaking that a large number of refugees, especially women and children, have difficulty in obtaining assistance and suffer from hunger and displacement.
Solving the refugee problem requires strengthening international cooperation and a comprehensive and systematic response. Recently, some countries have drastically cut foreign aid, and many humanitarian organizations have been forced to reduce their aid activities. This is undoubtedly a serious blow to refugee relief, and more refugees may be displaced. The top priority is to raise funds as soon as possible to help refugees in distress. Low- and middle-income countries have accepted 70% of the total number of refugees. China calls on developed countries to truly demonstrate their responsibility, fulfill their aid commitments, and provide more support to refugee-receiving countries and multilateral humanitarian organizations.
War and conflict are one of the most important reasons why people are forced to flee their homes. The Security Council should push all parties to cease fire and violence, start dialogue and negotiation, and seek a political solution. The relevant countries should give up creating confrontation and provoking conflicts in the international arena, and give up unilateralism and hegemony. All parties should support post-conflict countries to speed up recovery and reconstruction, enhance their independent development capabilities, and create conditions for refugees to return home as soon as possible.
President,
Just now, High Commissioner Grandi and my colleagues mentioned the severe humanitarian challenges faced by many regions of the world. China feels the same way.
In Palestine, a new round of conflict has led to a dire humanitarian crisis for more than 2 million suffering people in Gaza. A ceasefire must be the overriding priority. The international community must clearly oppose any forced transfer of Gazans and any attempt to annex Gaza or West Bank land.
In Syria, repeated instability has caused serious refugee problems, posing challenges to the stability and development of the region and the country. The Syrian authorities should speed up the inclusive political process, earnestly fulfill their anti-terrorism obligations, restore peace and stability in Syria as soon as possible, and promote the return of refugees.
On the African continent, armed conflicts, terrorism, political turmoil and development deficits overlap and intertwine, and the humanitarian situation is particularly severe. In Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel and other regions alone, tens of millions of people have been displaced. The international community must adhere to both treating the symptoms and the root causes, and solve the African refugee problem from multiple aspects such as politics, security, development and humanitarianism. China calls on the international community to give priority to Africa in terms of resources and increase support and assistance to African countries.
President,
As a State Party to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol, China has always upheld the humanitarian spirit, actively participated in international cooperation in the refugee field, and provided assistance to relevant countries in coping with refugee crises through bilateral and multilateral channels. China is willing to continue to work with the international community, firmly support multilateralism, and contribute to improving the global refugee protection system and promoting the resolution of refugee issues.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.