Madam President,

China wishes to thank Special Envoy Mr Martin Griffiths and Director Mr John Ging for their briefings.

The conflict in Yemen has been going on for over three years while political negotiations have remained stalled for nearly two years. The situation in Yemen has continued to have a profound impact on regional peace and security. The escalated conflict in Hodeidah and other areas and the increased risks of famine and cholera outbreaks have aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. This is a situation that the Yemeni people cannot endure and one that regional countries and the international community at large cannot accept.

Political settlement is the key to lasting peace in Yemen. Recently, Special Envoy Griffiths has been closely engaging the Yemeni parties and regional countries in his shuttle diplomacy efforts and working tirelessly to prevent the situation in Hodeidah from sliding into a bigger crisis. We support the Special Envoy’s intensified mediation efforts to bring the parties to the negotiating table, and to push them to cease hostilities and return to the track of political settlement, as a means to achieve peace, security and stability in Yemen at an early date.

The Special Envoy floated the idea of an organizational meeting in Geneva this September open to all Yemeni parties. This will be an important window of opportunity for peace in Yemen. We hope that all parties in Yemen can show goodwill, seize this opportunity in earnest to address differences through dialogue and consultation, break the impasse without delay and relaunch the Yemeni political negotiation for real. The international community and regional countries should help bring this about by lending their constructive support.

Madam President,

Yemen is in the grip of a dire humanitarian situation. Parties to the conflict must take steps to ensure safe, swift and unimpeded humanitarian access and pave the way for easing the humanitarian situation in Yemen. China opposes any moves that target civilians and extend or fuel the conflict.

The international community should step up humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of the Yemeni people. Just recently, at the opening session of the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an additional package of 600 million RMB (or 88 million US dollars) in aid to the people in Yemen, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon for the humanitarian and reconstruction work on the ground.

Madam President,

China supports the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen. We also support all parties in Yemen to immediately reach an inclusive solution through dialogue and negotiation on the basis of the Council’s resolutions, the Initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its implementation mechanism, and the outcome document of Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference. China stands ready to join the rest of the international community to support the work of Special Envoy Griffiths and continue to play a constructive role in facilitating the political settlement of the Yemeni issue.

Thank you, Madam President.