(April 6,2011)

Mr. President,

I appreciate Colombia’s initiative to hold this open debate on the question of Haiti. I would also like to thank President Santos Calderon for his presence today to preside over this meeting. I also listened carefully to the statements made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and former United States President Clinton, and President Preval of Haiti.

Last year, Haiti suffered a series of setbacks as a result of the earthquake and the cholera epidemic. It now faces the long-term and daunting task of maintaining security and stability and rebuilding the country. China is concerned about the current political, security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. The international community should continue to focus on Haiti and to provide proactive assistance and support. Today, I would like to focus on four points.

First, our priority for Haiti now is to drive forward its political process and to ensure a peaceful and smooth transfer of power after the election. China hopes that the second round of the presidential election will be a significant impetus to the democratic process and political reconciliation in Haiti. We also hope that the Haitian parties concerned will maintain their unity and strengthen their mutual trust so as to create favourable conditions for political stability and early reconstruction.

Secondly, in ensuring security and stability in Haiti, the international community should increase its assistance to Haiti for post-disaster reconstruction and development. To date, the pace of recovery and rebuilding in Haiti remains slow. We call on the international community to pay greater attention to Haiti’s existing difficulties and real needs so as to accelerate fulfilling the commitments made at the United Nations donor conference on 31 March last year and to ensure that the resources are obtained and the projects carried out.

Thirdly, the Government and people of Haiti bear the primary responsibility for maintaining their national security and stability, rebuilding their country and achieving sustainable development. The international community should respect Haiti’s ownership and leading role. China believes that the international community’s priority should be to help Haiti to maintain security and stability, to restore and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Government, and to accelerate post-disaster reconstruction. The parties concerned should improve their division of labour and strengthen cooperation and coordination.

Fourthly, China appreciates the contributions made by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in helping Haiti to maintain security and stability. China supports MINUSTAH’s ongoing implementation of its Security Council mandate to focus on assisting Haiti to maintain security and stability, to drive forward its political process, and to support the capacity-building of Government institutions, in particular in the security, police and judicial sectors, so as to create a safe and stable environment conducive to the reconstruction and development of Haiti.