Madam President,

I wish to thank High Representative Inzko for his briefing.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Over the past two quarters century, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been peaceful and stable on the whole. We hoped parties in BiH will take the anniversary as an opportunity to renew their commitments to the agreement, enhance mutual trust, forge consensus, maintain unity, and strengthen cooperation for the furtherance of the national peace and reconciliation process.

We respect the choice of the BiH people for the future of their country and support harmonious coexistence and common development among all ethnicities. Local elections are to start on 15th of November. The city of Mostar, in particular, will be holding its first local elections since 2008 in December. These elections are vital to consolidating the country’s peace process. We encourage all parties in BiH to move forward in the same direction, continue to address outstanding issues through dialogue and negotiation, and work together on election preparations.

Given the serious challenges posed by COVID-19, it is incumbent upon all parties in BiH to set store by national interests, bolster cooperation and solidarity, promote institutional building at a national level, enhance decision making efficiency and capacity, invest more in health care and the infrastructure, and promote socioeconomic recovery and development, so as to create an enabling environment for the harmonious coexistence of people from all ethnic backgrounds.

Durable peace, stability and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the common interest of regional countries and the international community at large. On the BiH issue, we must all take a fair, balanced and prudent approach to enable further progress in the country’s peace and reconciliation process pursuant to its constitution, with greater capacity for self-reliance development and national security. We look forward to the High Representative working in strict accordance with his mandate, staying objective and neutral, maintaining constructive dialogue and cooperation with all parties in the country, and advancing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. We also hope EUFOR will step up engagement and coordination with all the relevant parties and contribute to the maintenance of security and stability on the ground.

Over the years, the peace and reconciliation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina has received global attention and support and benefited from tremendous help provide by other countries. We also hope that BiH for its part will strictly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in its external relations, take a balanced and prudent approach to the relevant issues, respect other country’s sovereignty and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs.

China stands ready to continue working with the rest of the international community towards lasting peace, stability and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thank you, Madam President.