23 January 2025
President,
I thank Algeria for the initiative of convening this meeting. I welcome Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf presiding over this meeting. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for their briefings.
Strengthening the UN’s cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations is a requirement clearly laid out in the UN Charter, and a meaningful demonstration of multilateralism. Under the current circumstances, the League of Arab States represents an important platform for Arab countries to seek strength through unity, and plays an ever more prominent role in regional affairs. China supports the UN to further deepen cooperation with the League in accordance with the spirit of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, and jointly promote peace and development in the region.
We must make every effort to stabilize the situation in the region. For over a year, the Middle East has been jolted by the eruption of several conflicts, and tensions have continued to escalate and spread. The priority now is to stop fighting and restore peace. Relevant international actors, including UN entities as well as the Secretary-General’s special envoys and special representatives, should strengthen their communication and coordination with the League and the wider Arab world, in order to form synergy and promote deescalation.
We must commit ourselves to political settlement of hotspot issues. The international community should stay united and seek to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. The League of Arab States can leverage its strength of geographical, historical, religious, and cultural affinity to play a unique role in conflict prevention and mediation. The Security Council should attach importance to the views of the League and encourage regional solutions to regional issues.
We must support the strategic autonomy of Arab countries. The international community should fully respect the historical and cultural traditions of Arab countries, support the League in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs, and support Arab countries in exploring development paths that accord with their national conditions.
President,
The question of Palestine lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. China welcomes the ceasefire reached in Gaza and appreciates the efforts made by the League of Arab States and relevant regional countries to that end. China calls on the parties concerned to earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We express serious concerns over Israel’s recent attacks in Jenin. China supports initiatives guided by the Palestinian-led, Palestinian-owned, and Palestinian-governed principle to build a coordinated post-war governance framework in Gaza and ensure unified and effective administration of Gaza and the West Bank. We commend the just position of the League and Arab countries on the question of Palestine, and support the relaunch of the two-State solution based on international consensus, including relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, to help the Palestinian people achieve independence and statehood as soon as possible.
The situation in Syria is at a critical stage. We support Syria in maintaining unity, restoring stability, and promoting an inclusive political transition in accordance with the spirit and principles of Security Council Resolution 2254. China supports the United Nations in playing an active role in providing good offices and facilitating dialogue among all parties. Syria must not become a base for terrorism or be used by any terrorist forces to threaten the security of other countries. Syria is a member of the Arab family. China supports the important role of the Arab ministerial contact group on Syria in facilitating a political transition and promoting reconstruction.
President,
China and Arab countries enjoy long-standing ties of friendly exchanges. The peace and development of Arab countries has always been close to our hearts. In May last year, President Xi Jinping, together with heads of state from Arab countries, attended the opening ceremony of the tenth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. President Xi delivered an important speech on that occasion, identifying the overall direction and presenting a blueprint for the development of China-Arab relations in the new era. The outcome documents adopted at the conference, including the Beijing Declaration and the Forum’s Execution Plan for 2024-2026 reflected the strategic consensus of the two sides on major regional and international issues and deepened the practical cooperation in such fields as business, trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, education, health, and aerospace, China stands ready to work with Arab countries to accelerate the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future and make greater contributions to the peace and stability in the Middle East.
Thank you, President.