Madam President,

I would like to welcome the presence in the chamber of His Excellency Mr. Sefik Dzaferovic, Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would also like to welcome the Permanent Representatives of Serbia and Croatia to the meeting.

Since our last meeting on BiH, the political situation there continues to feature a profound deadlock. Disagreements still remain among the parties in BiH on important issues of state governance, giving rise to greater political uncertainty. At the same time, China also notes that all parties in BiH, including RS, have pledged to uphold national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. China’s position on BiH has been consistent and clear. We respect to sovereignty, independence, national unity, and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respect the choice of its people for the future of the country, and encourage all parties in BiH to actively engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation to achieve national reconciliation. 2022 is an election year in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope that all parties there will move towards each other, persist in seeking consensus through dialogue and consultation, and work together to advance the country's political agenda.

The High Representative system and the Bonn Powers thereof are special arrangements of a special era. From the perspective of the maintenance of long-term peace and stability, and its accession to the EU, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to find a feasible path to fully restore sovereignty. The international community should, on the basis of the evolving situation, and in a fair, balanced, and prudent manner, provide constructive assistance in a way that meets the genuine needs of the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Picking sides by external forces will not help reconcile the differences and disagreements on ethnic groups in BiH. Arbitrarily imposing unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law may also aggravate tensions, and further complicate an already difficult situation, much less an effective way to find a solution to the problem.

Madam President,

China supports all efforts that are conducive to the maintenance of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. China commends the roles played by Serbia, Croatia, and other countries in region to that end. We note that the number of troops have increased significantly for EUFOR in BiH. We hope that EUFOR will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining security and stability in BiH, and providing assistance in mine clearance and the fight against terrorism.

Madam President,

The geopolitical situation in Europe is now facing new challenges, which result in severe impacts on energy and food security worldwide. Compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, this has put the economy and people’s well-being in Bosnia and Herzegovina under intense pressure, as evidenced by the fast rising inflation and persistent high unemployment. The international community, the EU and European partners in particular, should continue to scale up anti-epidemic and development assistance to BiH, so as to help with its socio-economic recovery as quickly as possible. China attaches great importance to its friendly relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our friendship is towards all the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bilateral cooperation in various fields, including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and trade has continuously deepened. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, China has provided, as a matter of urgency, vaccines and donation of several batches of anti-epidemic supplies to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will continue to do our best to help BiH achieve long-term peace, stability, and development.

Thank you, Madam President.