Mr. President,

China thanks Special Representative Kobler, Special Envoy Robinson and Angolan Minister of Defence Gonçalves Lourenço for their briefings. We welcome the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of South Africa and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Uganda at today’s meeting.

Since the beginning of the year, the situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen continuous improvement. The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region has gradually been implemented. The international community, including the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations such as the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, has made great efforts to that end, which China greatly appreciates.

The Great Lakes region is at the centre of the African continent. For historical and ethnic reasons, countries in the region have frequent interactions. Their destinies are inextricably interwoven. Right now, the region has a good opportunity to put an end to its long-term turmoil. The international community should coordinate its efforts on three fronts so as to push for the realization of lasting peace, stability and development in the region.

First, with respect to common security, the international community should advocate in favour of the concept of common security, comprehensiveness, cooperation and sustainable development, and respect and guarantee every country’s security. In the Great Lakes region, the international community should encourage countries concerned to resolve their differences and disputes through discussion and consultations and increase mutual trust, resolve divergences and promote security through dialogue.

Secondly, in the area of common development, the Great Lakes region is endowed with rich resources and an enormous potential for development. The international community should concretely help countries in the region realize development and address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty. While pursuing their own development, countries in the region should also actively strive to achieve development for all so that the fruits of development can bring more and greater benefits to the people of every country.

Thirdly, with respect to win-win cooperation, working together will make countries stronger, while isolation will make them weak. Countries should abide by the basic policy of win-win cooperation in handling their international affairs. We hope that members from the region will establish a new concept of win-win in bilateral, multilateral and common endeavours and through regional cooperation platforms, such as the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region, and jointly promote regional peace, security and development. China attaches great importance to its ties with Africa. I firmly support Africa in resolving African issues in an African way, while we implement the China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security initiative in an in-depth manner and further increase our support for the creation of a collective security mechanism in Africa. In the meantime, we will continue our cooperation with the rest of the international community so as to jointly promote peace, stability, prosperity and development in Africa.

Thank you, Mr. President.