President,

At the outset, on behalf of the Chinese Mission, I wish to thank the Permanent Representative of Malta and her team for their successful work as Council President in April. And I congratulate Mozambique on becoming the President of the Council for this month. China will render its full support. 

President,

I thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Envoy Hanna Tetteh for their briefings, and I welcome the presence of the representatives of Sudan and South Sudan at today’s meeting. In connection with the Secretary-General's report, I would like to emphasize the following three points. 

First, we need to maintain the security and stability in Abyei. Inter-communal conflict is still the main security problem in Abyei. China welcomes the agreement on transhumance between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities during the reporting period. However, the security situation in central and southern Abyei remains grave, with sporadic inter-communal armed clashes resulting in civilian casualties and displacement and threatening the overall stability in Abyei. we support UNISFA in working according to its mandate to diffuse differences through dialogue, so as to achieve peaceful coexistence among communities. The UN country team should fully cooperate with UNISFA to carry out more peacebuilding and livelihood development projects in Abyei and focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict. 

Second, we need to do our utmost to ensure the effective implementation of UNISFA’s mandate, China commends UNISFA for its tremendous efforts in overcoming challenges and maintaining peace and stability in Abeyi. As the SG points out in his report, UNISFA has recently been attacked on several occasions while carrying out its mandate, resulting in a number of blue helmet casualties, which is deplorable. We call on the United Nations to attach great importance to the issue, draw lessons from it, and do its utmost to ensure the safety of UNISFA peacekeepers. We hope that Sudan and South Sudan will closely work with UNISFA, provide it with the greatest possible protection, and help facilitate equipment transportation, logistical supplies, and personnel safety. 

Third, we need to create conditions to relaunch the political process. The prolongation of armed conflict in Sudan has had a multifaceted impact on the situation in Abyei. The massive influx of refugees has exacerbated the humanitarian challenges and competition for resources, thus impeding the Abyei political process. China expects that Sudan will end the conflict sooner and resume dialogue and cooperation with South Sudan at an early date, so as to lay the basis for relaunching the Abyei political process. We commend and support the United Nations, African Union, and IGAD in their efforts to resolve the Abyei issue, and encourage Special Envoy Tetteh and UNISFA to continue maintaining contact with parties concerned, so as to build up favorable momentum for a political solution to the issue of Abyei. 

President,

At the end of last year, the fourth batch of Chinese peacekeeping helicopter units successfully went to Abyei to carry out its mandate, providing important support for UNISFA in troop deployment, air patrols, and CASEVAC. China is ready to work with the international community to make further contributions to the peace and stability in Abyei.

I thank you, President.