President.

I thank Special Representative Valentine Rugwabiza and chair of the PBC Configuration CAR Permanent Representative Omar Hilale of Morocco for their briefings. I also welcome the representative of the Central African Republic to today’s meeting.

At present, the political and peace process in the CAR is at a critical stage. In light of the Secretary-General’s report, I would like to highlight the following three points.

First, we need to support the CAR in promoting political and peace processes. During the reporting period, the CAR Government continued its dialogue with armed groups carried out DDRR in the capital of Bangui upper Mbomou, and other places. We welcome all of these. We also call on the armed groups that have not laid down their arms to cease hostilities and return to the track of political dialogue. China has noted that local elections in the CAR have been postponed due to funding shortfalls and other issues, and calls on the international community to provide targeted support to ensure the smooth holding of elections next year.

Second, we need to help the CAR address security challenges. The CAR continues to face a complex security situation with continued attacks by arms groups and local militias, leading to civilian casualties and displacement. The international community should increase its support to the CAR Government to help strengthen its security capacity building. MINUSCA should continue to follow the Council mandate and support the CAR defense and security forces in strengthening their deployment, improving their ability to protect civilians, and responding to the threat of armed groups. We should also pay close attention to the spillover effects of the Sudanese conflict on the CAR and support the CAR’s enhanced cooperation with its neighboring countries to jointly safeguard regional security.

Third, we need to support the CAR in consolidating the foundation for peace. The CAR is in a critical stage of transition from peacekeeping to peace building, only by promoting development, reducing poverty, and improving people’s livelihood, can we give hope to the people in the country and eradicate the breeding ground for violent conflicts. The international community should step up its assistance to support the CAR in implementing its recently formulated national development plan and provide more funding and technical support in infrastructure, agriculture, education, and health, so as to promote economic recovery and sustainable development and lay a solid foundation for lasting peace.

President,

under the leadership of SRSG Rugwabiza, MINUSCA has made considerable efforts to support the political process, protection of civilians, and DDRR programs in the CAR. China recognizes all of this and will continue to support THE SRSG and MINUSCA in their work. Last August, the SG submitted a report of independent strategic review of MINUSCA. China hopes that the council will take this as an opportunity to enable MINUSCA to take into account the host country’s actual situation and development needs, streamline and optimize its mandate at an appropriate time, truly focus its resources and strengths on the core issues and the most urgent tasks, and continuously improve MINUSCA’s capacity and effectiveness in implementing its mandate. 

I thank you, President.