Mr. President,

China appreciates the Dominican Republic for its initiative to convene this meeting. I also thank the Secretary-General and his Envoy on Youth Mrs. Jayathma Wickramanayake for the briefings. We have listened tentatively to the remarks of the briefers. We thank them for sharing with us their thoughts.

Young people account for 16 percent of world population, and they are playing important role in promoting sustainable development, maintaining international peace and security，and strengthening global solidarity and partnership.

China attaches great importance to the agenda of Youth, Peace and Security. We are pleased to note the progress made in the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2250 and 2419.

Meanwhile, it is also worrisome that young people in a number of countries and regions are still suffering from armed conflicts. As a result, they are facing hardships of poverty, unemployment, and marginalization etc. Some of them even fall prey to terrorism. Currently, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic also poses great challenges, putting the health, education and employment of young people at risk. The impact should not be neglected.

The international community should fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions, stay attentive on the development of youth, help them to tackle challenges arising from the pandemic, and support them in playing a bigger role in advancing world peace and development.

First, step up our efforts to protect the youth, by preventing conflicts, and shielding them from the harm of terrorism and extremism.

To that end, the Security Council should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote political settlement of hot-spot issues, work towards conflict prevention and resolution through peaceful means.

Moreover, the international community should resolutely fight against all forms of terrorism and violent extremism with unified standards, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. In particular, we need to combat the terrorism and extremism ideologies that corrode the mind of young people, take necessary de-radicalization measures, and crack down the infiltration of terrorist and radical groups among youth through Internet.

Second, acknowledge and support the important role of youth in advancing peace and security, and to further unleash their potentials in this regard.

It is important to take into full consideration youth-related factors in the political settlement of hot-spot issues, ensure the constructive participation of young people in peace process of their home countries, and draw on young people’s strengths and listen to their views.

Youth should also be enabled to participate in conflict prevention and resolution, contribute to social stability and development, and take active part in post-conflict reconstruction.

The UN should enhance exchange and coordination on youth-related agenda and achieve synergy, with the African Union, the League of Arab States, the ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other regional and sub-regional organizations.

Third, promote inclusive development, create favorable environment for youth development, and strive for lasting peace.

The international community should make youth a key driver in the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and pursue peace through development. As the Secretary-General pointed out in his report on youth, peace and security, the 2030 Agenda is a cornerstone of long-term prevention. Investing in young people and transforming systems of exclusion to inclusion represents a central component of the 2030 Agenda commitment.

Countries also need to invest more in education and vocational training for young people, create more employment opportunities, support entrepreneurship, lift young population out of poverty and help them achieve all-round development, so as to lay solid foundation for peace.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take very seriously the possible disruption in education, employment, accessibility of health services for youth, and address the risks with concrete measures. Meanwhile, we should also call on young people to join the pandemic response efforts, help the most vulnerable, and contribute to social prosperity.

Mr. President,

China has been actively engaged in international youth programs. We are carrying out youth exchanges and cooperation with many countries and international organizations, including establishing the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center to promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship, helping the Arab League with training young professionals, launching the China-Latin American Young Scientist Exchange Program, among other things. Besides, we have been providing government scholarships to young students from all over the world to study in China. We has also deployed excellent young peacekeepers, including female peacekeepers to various UN Missions.

It is the sincere hope of China that with our joint efforts, we can shape a brighter shared future for all, including our younger generations.

Thank you, Mr. President.