President,

I thank Deputy Special Representative Stephanie Koury for her briefing. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Libya at today’s meeting. I would like to make the following points.

First, dialogue and consultation are the only way out of the political impasse in Libya. Recently, the House of Representatives and the High State Council of Libya have strengthened communication to discuss the formation of a unified government, the holding of elections, and other key issues. China notes that the relevant parties in Libya will hold the second round of political consultations in Cairo. We hope that all parties will stay committed to the general direction of political settlement, maintain the momentum of dialogue, resolve the remaining differences through consultation, and continue to advance the political process.

Second, the UN is a major channel for mediation on the Libyan issue. The international community and UNSMIL should continue to provide constructive support for a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. The Bahrain Declaration adopted at the 33rd Summit of the League of Arab States reaffirms its opposition to interference in Libya’s internal affairs and calls for the withdrawal of external forces and mercenaries as soon as possible. China calls on the international community to respect in earnest the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya, fully address the concerns of all parties in Libya, and avoid imposing external solutions.

Third, national reconciliation is an important step towards rebuilding trust and silencing the guns. China commends the efforts of the Republic of Congo to facilitate strengthened communication between the AU High-Level Committee on Libya and all relevant parties in Libya and to promote the convening of a National Reconciliation Conference in the country at an early date. China supports efforts to solve African issues in the African ways. We believe that Libya can benefit from the experience of the AU in reconciliation, and call on the international community to provide necessary support to that end.

Fourth, the maintenance of security and stability is a common aspiration of the Libyan people. The recent outbreak of clashes in Zawiya and other places has led to dozens of casualties, a stark reminder of the fragility of the security landscape. China calls on all parties in Libya to act in the interests of the country and its people, be rational, exercise restraint, and avoid all forms of violence. The 5+5 Joint Military Commission should promote the continued implementation of the ceasefire agreement by all parties and establish a unified military and police force.

Fifth, developing the economy and improving livelihood are the essential path to achieving lasting peace and stability. Earlier this month, we once again witnessed the loss of lives of migrants along the Libyan coast, which is heartbreaking. We call on relevant European countries to effectively protect the right to life and human rights of migrants and refugees and provide support for the management of Libyan migrants and refugees and economic development in Libya. China commends the holding of the meeting in April between Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria to strengthen regional cooperation on border management, combating illegal migration, and the establishment of a free trade zone. We welcome Libya’s efforts to increase oil production to provide strong support for securing the provision of public services and improving livelihoods. The Libyan authorities have repeatedly expressed concerns about their frozen assets abroad. The Council should attach great importance to this issue and proactively address the legitimate concerns of Libya.

Thank you, President.