Mr. President,

I thank Bosnia and Herzegovina for taking the initiative to convene this thematic debate on post-conflict peacebuilding and institution-building. We welcome the attendance of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Deputy Prime Minister Guterres of Timor-Leste. I also thank Ambassador Wittig, Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission, for his statement.

Peacebuilding is the common challenge facing post-conflict countries. It is also one of important means through which the international community helps prevent relapse into conflicts. In the peacebuilding process, there are questions that are not new but that have not yet been effectively addressed, such as the following. In post-conflict countries, how can peacebuilding work evolve at an early stage so that a transition from stability to sustainable peace and development can be achieved? How can coherence and coordination between the United Nations and other relevant parties be strengthened so that effective partnership can be established? In what ways should the United Nations and the international community provide support and help to post-conflict countries in peacebuilding, especially institution-building? In that context, China would like to raise the following four points.

First, it is imperative that the post-conflict countries bear the primary responsibility for peacebuilding in their own countries. All sides must fully respect the sovereignty and will of the countries concerned. National ownership and national capacity must be enhanced so as to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development. The role of the international community is to provide assistance rather than substitution.

Secondly, national capacity-building is the key to success in peacebuilding in post-conflict countries. The United Nations and the international community must prioritize peacebuilding tasks, including institutionbuilding, in the light of the specificities and circumstances of post-conflict countries and must provide timely and tailored technical support and assistance. In that regard, it is important to deploy competent international civil servants with the right skills to the post-conflict countries in a timely manner and to vigorously help countries concerned to provide training in the talents needed.

Thirdly, prioritization is important in helping peacebuilding in post-conflict countries. In such countries a myriad of tasks must be restarted from scratch, in a complex environment with fragile political and security bases. The international community’s first task is to help the countries concerned ensure basic security, promote the political process, provide basic services, support core government functions and reinvigorate the economy and development. The primary goal of the international community’s support in institution-building is to consolidate peace, safeguard stability, revive the economy and enhance the rule of law. In that process, full consideration must be given to the priority needs of the countries concerned and full attention must be paid to their views in formulating peacebuilding strategies.

Fourthly, the United Nations and the international community need to enhance coordination so that conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and promoting development can advance in tandem and in an orderly manner. That entails setting up comprehensive strategies for peacebuilding so that experiences and lessons can be drawn quickly and overlapping and waste of resources can be avoided.