Mr. President, 

I thank ASG Pobee and Special Envoy Tetteh for their briefings. I also welcome the Permanent representatives of Sudan and South Sudan to the meeting today. 

In recent years, the bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan continue to improve, with both sides helping each other to advance the domestic political processes, which is conducive to maintaining regional stability and creating good conditions for the resolution of the Abyei issue. China welcomes the convening of a Joint Peace and Security Mechanism Meeting between Sudan and South Sudan last May, and the progress made on the opening of border crossing corridors. We are also pleased with the interaction between the two parties for the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee meetings to be reconvened in the near future. We hope that the two parties will continue to increase political input in Abyei issue, maintain dialogue and consultation, speed up the implementation of Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei, with the support of the AU and IGAD, so as to continuously promote the issue towards settlement. 

The sporadic outbreaks of ethnic conflicts and security incidents in Abyei are a cause for concern. It is comforting to know that thanks to the joint response of UNISFA, the regional administration, as well as Sudan and South Sudan, the security situation in Abyei has remained generally stable and under control. China welcomes the peace conference and resumption of engagement between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities, and encouraged all communities to participate in the seasonal peace conference convened by UNISFA and IOM to agree on modalities for the next transhumance period and to work together to reduce tension and achieve harmonious coexistence. 

The people in the region are experiencing multiple challenges such as violence, flooding and livelihood hardship, and lack basic public services such as water, health, education and agricultural and pastoral assistance, and are in dire need of targeted relief from the international community. China supports UN in carrying out peacebuilding projects in Abyei to help improve the situation of people, properly deal with violent conflicts induced by resource competition, and build a solid foundation for lasting peace through sustainable development.

Mr. President, 

UNISFA is an important force for maintaining peace and stability in Abyei and plays an indispensable role in the political settlement of the Abyei issue. China supports UNISFA in performing its duties and encourages the parties to continue to cooperate with UNISFA in its work. We welcome the near completion of the reconfiguration of UNISFA and thank the Ethiopian peacekeepers for their efforts over the years for Abyei stability. As one of the TCCs of UNISFA, China has dispatched a peacekeeping helicopter contingent to Abyei, which has been actively meeting the needs of the peacekeeping mandate and going all out to complete various flights and ground support tasks since its deployment. The Chinese peacekeepers will continue to support the work of UNISFA with actions and firmly carry out their peace mission.

Thank you, Mr. President.