Madam President,

I thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, Assistant Secretary-General Ramesh Rajasingham and representative of the civil society group Ms. Ola Al-Aghbary for their briefings.

The situation in Yemen has remained turbulent in the recent past and the hostilities between parties of the conflict have escalated, prompting widespread concern in the international community. According to a report released by UNDP, as of the end of 2021, this conflict has killed 377,000 Yemenis, most of them children. An early end to the conflict would mean saving more lives. All parties to the conflict should immediately ceasefire, put an end to violence, exercising maximum restraint, and refrain from taking any actions that could lead to a complicated escalation of the situation.

In this regard, China pays high attention to the letter from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the President of the Security Council dated December 28, and the letter from the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the President of Council on January 9. Saudi Arabia has condemned the Houthis attack on a store in Jazan, which resulted in civilian casualties. The UAE has reported on the seizure of an Emirati flagged cargo ship by the Houthis on the high seas of the Red Sea. China is deeply concerned about these reports. We have noticed that many countries in the region as well as the GCC and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have expressed concern about seizure of the ship by the Houthis. China supports the Security Council in pronouncing on these developments and condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures. We hope that the relevant issues will be properly resolved as soon as possible, that the ship and its crew will be released, and that the maritime safety of the Red Sea and channels of international navigation will be maintained.

Madam President,

The Yemen issue must ultimately be resolved through political means. Special Envoy Grundberg has actively engaged with all parties in Yemen, visited several countries in the region, and proposed a comprehensive and inclusive political process supported and coordinated by the international community. China supports this approach. As the new year has just begun, The Yemeni people urgently need to gain confidence and hope for the future. We hope that all parties in Yemen will demonstrate good political will, engage the Special Envoy without conditions, exchange views candidly, and reach a realistic and feasible political solution at an early date. In this process, attention must be paid to the views of women, youth and other groups. The Yemen issue concerns peace and stability in the Gulf region, and the regional situation also affects the situation in Yemen. China calls on regional countries to play an active role in promoting peace talks on the Yemen issue, as doing so serves the common interests of all parties.

Madam President,

Yemen’s humanitarian needs continue to rise with 15.6 million Yemeni people falling into extreme poverty. It is imperative to act urgently to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and improve the country’s economy. China supports the United Nations in advancing the Yemen Economic Framework and implementing short-term as well as medium- and long-term relief measures in phases. The international community should continue to provide financial and material assistance to Yemen and maintain the UN humanitarian relief program in Yemen. All parties in Yemen should abide by international humanitarian law, ensure humanitarian access and protect civilians, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children. We support the Yemeni Government to take active measures in the field of economy and livelihood, regulate the oil and fuel market, and strengthen the management of public finance.

Thank you, Madam President.