29 April 2025
President:
I thank you for coming to New York to preside over today’s meeting, and I thank Secretary-General Guterres for his briefing.
The Middle East is currently in deep turmoil and the tension is worrying. Israel has reignited the war in Gaza and continues to besiege and attack Gaza. New innocent civilians are killed and injured every day, and the humanitarian disaster continues to escalate. Illegal settlements in the West Bank continue to expand, and settler violence is intensifying. Israel frequently launches attacks on Lebanon and Syria, continuing to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries. Since last month, tensions in the Red Sea have intensified, and the United States has continuously escalated its air strikes on Yemen, violating Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Gaza conflict is the trigger for this round of regional unrest. It has been 19 months since the conflict broke out. Despite the strong call from the international community for a ceasefire in Gaza, there is still no sign of peace. In this bloody tragedy, more than 52,000 people have been killed and 2 million Gazans are facing the threat of forced relocation. One of the important reasons why this round of Gaza conflict has lasted so long and caused so much damage is that the basic principles of international rule of law have been wantonly violated.
Here, I would like to reiterate some self-evident principles: Security Council resolutions must be fully implemented. This is stipulated in the UN Charter and there is no room for any distorted interpretation. The implementation of international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and cannot be used as a bargaining chip. The principles of international law are universally applicable to all countries. Double standards and selective application will bring serious consequences. We urge Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under international law and abide by the basic norms of international relations. As a major country with important influence on the parties concerned, the United States should abandon geopolitical self-interest, uphold a fair and responsible attitude, and make efforts to restore regional peace and stability.
In view of the current severe situation, I would like to emphasize the following four points:
First, a lasting ceasefire must be achieved. Violence cannot bring security, and force cannot bring peace. A lasting ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to save lives and bring hostages home, and it must be the overriding priority. China urges Israel to abandon its obsession with winning by force and immediately stop its military operations in Gaza and its attacks on Lebanon and Syria. We call on the United States to stop its air strikes on Yemen and respect Yemen’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. The Houthis should stop harassing merchant ships and maintain the safety of waterways in the Red Sea.
Second, humanitarian aid must be restored in Gaza. Humanitarian aid cannot be weaponized. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as an occupying power, immediately lift the blockade, and fully restore access to humanitarian supplies in Gaza. We strongly condemn any attack on humanitarian workers and call for a thorough investigation and accountability for all attacks. The so-called “professional mistakes” cannot be an excuse for killing humanitarian workers. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is an agency authorized by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. It enjoys privileges and immunities, and its dignity, safety and convenience should be respected and guaranteed.
Third, unilateral actions that violate international law must be stopped. Settlement activities in the West Bank violate Security Council resolutions and must be stopped immediately. Security Council Resolution 2735 clearly states that “any attempt to change the demographic and territorial structure of Gaza is opposed”. We are seriously concerned about Israel’s recent expansion of its troops in Gaza and its use of more than half of the territory as a “buffer zone”. The international community must firmly oppose any forced transfer of Gazans and any attempt to annex Gaza or the West Bank. Israel should withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories as soon as possible.
Fourth, the “two-state solution” must be revitalized. Implementing the “two-state solution” is the only viable way to resolve the Palestinian issue. We support the Gaza recovery and reconstruction plan jointly initiated by Egypt and Arab countries, and appreciate that France and Saudi Arabia will hold a high-level meeting on the implementation of the “two-state solution” in June. We look forward to the meeting injecting new momentum into the implementation of the “two-state solution”. The international community should increase its efforts to promote the political process of the “two-state solution” and provide strong guarantees for this.
President,
As the primary body for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council has the responsibility to take all necessary actions to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to quell the fighting in Gaza, restore peace in the Middle East, and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.