On behalf of the Chinese Mission in New York and me personally, I express our deepest condolences with regard to the passing of Ambassador Tanoh-Boutchoue to his family and to the Permanent Mission and Government of Côte d’Ivoire. Mr. Tanoh-Boutchoue was a senior diplomat and our close colleague and friend. His passing is extremely tragic.

I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting. I also welcome His Excellency Mr. Naranjo Trujillo, Vice-President of Colombia, for his presence and Her Excellency the Foreign Minister of Colombia for attending the meeting. I thank Special Representative Arnault for his briefing.

The Colombian peace process is crucial to achieving comprehensive peace and development in Colombia. It is also instrumental to maintaining peace and stability in the whole region. China commends the commitment and relentless efforts made by the Colombian Government, President Santos Calderón, and all other parties concerned.

A comprehensive implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace signed between the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) is essential to the Colombian peace process. Currently, the implementation of the Peace Agreement is facing some challenges. We hope that the parties concerned in Colombia can meet each other halfway, overcome difficulties and continue to consistently facilitate the peace process in order to maintain the positive momentum of the Colombian peace process and establish conditions conducive to the full implementation of the Peace Agreement between the Government and FARC-EP.

The Colombian peace process is irreversible, based on a high-level consensus among all parties in Colombia and the international community. The Security Council and the international community must continue to play close attention to and support the peace process, respect the ownership of the Government and the people of Colombia with regard to the process and provide constructive assistance to the overall implementation of the Peace Agreement.

China commends the important role played by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Arnault, and the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia in facilitating the Colombian peace process. We hope that the Mission will continue to enhance its communication with the Government and the Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común and do more to build trust and facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement.

China applauds the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) for honouring its commitment to a unilateral ceasefire during the parliamentary elections this year. We hope that the Verification Mission will continue to leverage its role in urging the ELN to reach a new ceasefire agreement with the Government as soon as possible.

Together with other members of the Council, China is ready to make a greater contribution to the ongoing facilitation of the peace process and the early achievement of overall peace and security in Colombia.