China welcomes you to New York, Madam President, to preside over today’s open meeting. I thank Under-Secretary-General Lowcock and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. Beasley, for their briefings.

For some time now, some African and West Asian countries and regions have seen droughts and the effects of climate change, among other challenges, and have suffered from severe famine. Helping the countries concerned to cope with famine and to settle the issue will help eliminate the root causes of war and conflict. The United Nations, the World Food Programme and other relevant agencies have made great efforts to alleviate disasters, which China greatly appreciates. The international community should continue to provide help to the countries and regions concerned.

First, it is necessary to promote inclusive and balanced development that benefits all. Development is a top priority and the fundamental policy objective if various global issues are to be resolved. The United Nations system must play a coordinating role to promote the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, give priority to the elimination of poverty and hunger and continue to increase input into the development of developing countries. The principles of extensive consultation, joint contributions and shared benefits should be adopted in global governance to guide the globalization of the economy towards healthy development, properly respond to climate change issues and actively help developing countries to enhance their capacity for independent development with a view to achieving development.

Secondly, efforts should be stepped up for the resolution of regional hotspot issues to help the regions in conflict realize peace and stability at an early date and embark on the road to sustainable development. The Security Council and the international community should have a greater sense of urgency in finding political solutions to relevant hotspot issues, act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, assist countries in conflict in advancing the peace process and national reconciliation and in resolving their disputes through such peaceful means as dialogue and consultation, with a view to building together a world of lasting peace and universal security for all to share and to create a good environment for common development.

Thirdly, all United Nations organs should perform their respective functions in accordance with their mandates and observe the division of labour while strengthening cooperation. The Security Council, which has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security issues, should focus its efforts on helping relevant countries and regions to respond to peace and security issues, while the World Food Programme and the United Nations humanitarian agencies should respond to the needs of Member States in a timely manner and actively carry out food aid and other humanitarian relief activities. The strengths of and the roles played by regional and subregional organizations should be fully tapped to foster synergy in the international community to resolve the problem of famine.

China remains committed to settling disputes through dialogue and consultation and plays a positive and constructive role in seeking political settlements for international and regional hotspot issues. In the meantime, China is actively helping other developing countries in poverty eradication and elimination of hunger. In 2017, China actively fulfilled its international obligations by providing non-stop multiple batches of emergency food assistance to 38 countries in Africa and Asia and to four international organizations through mulitilateral and bilateral channels. We have also carried out 158 projects of various kinds under the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization and other international organizations, effectively alleviating disaster situations in relevant countries and regions. China stands ready to continue to work with the international community to promote the building of a community of shared future for humankind and make our contributions for achieving lasting peace and common prosperity in the world.