20 December 2024
President:
I thank Special Representative Simão for his briefing and listened carefully to Ms. Ademensah’s speech. In light of the Secretary-General’s latest report, I would like to make the following three points:
First, we should help countries in the region maintain stability. During the reporting period, Ghana, Cape Verde, Senegal and Mauritania successfully held elections at all levels, and Guinea published a new draft constitution. The smooth implementation of the relevant political agenda is of great significance to consolidating regional peace and stability. The international community should support countries in the region to strengthen national governance and capacity building based on actual conditions, steadily advance the political process, and follow a development path that suits their national conditions. For countries in transition, the international community should maintain necessary patience and provide more constructive help. China maintains traditional friendly relations with countries in the region and is willing to provide support and assistance to promote regional unity and maintain regional stability.
Second, we should help regional countries cope with security challenges. West Africa and the Sahel region have long suffered from terrorism. Faced with the complex and severe anti-terrorism situation, regional countries should establish a collective security awareness and continuously strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation. We welcome Niger’s return to the multinational joint task force in July this year and its border and anti-terrorism security cooperation with Libya and Nigeria. China appreciates the decision of ECOWAS to list anti-terrorism as a priority at the 66th Summit of Heads of State and Government held last weekend, and calls on the international community to effectively help regional countries enhance their independent anti-terrorism capabilities. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September this year, China announced that it would provide professional support to the African Center for Terrorism Studies and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and Training Program in Africa. We believe that the relevant measures will provide support for strengthening regional anti-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel.
Third, we need to help countries in the region achieve sustainable development. According to the Secretary-General’s report, many countries in West Africa and the Sahel face economic challenges such as high inflation, slowing growth, and debt repayment difficulties. The international community should increase its support for regional countries to develop their economies and improve people’s livelihoods, and provide targeted assistance. West Africa and the Sahel face special challenges in responding to climate change due to their geographical location and other reasons. We call on developed countries to face up to their historical responsibilities, actively fulfill their climate financing commitments, and increase financial and technical support to regional countries. China is willing to share technologies and experiences in disaster prevention, mitigation, relief, green development, water resources management, etc. with regional countries, and work together to respond to the negative impacts of climate change.
at last,
China appreciates the efforts and contributions made by Special Representative Simao and UNOWAS and will continue to support their work. China hopes that UNOWAS will strengthen coordination and cooperation with other UN missions in Africa and the country team to build greater synergy for promoting regional peace and development.
Thanks.