Mr. President,

China has carefully studied the report of the 18th special meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, and listened attentively to the briefing by Madam Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. China consistently maintains that constructive dialogue and cooperation is the only right way to promote and protect human rights.

Syria is an important country in the Middle East. Peace and stability in Syria serves the common interests of the Syrian people and the international community. Like other Member States, China has all along followed closely the developments in Syria. We call on all parties in Syria to stop violence, avoid casualties of innocent civilians in particular, restore order in the country as soon as possible, and respect the aspirations of the Syrian people for change and protection of their own interests.

We support the good offices efforts made by the Arab League and Arab countries to resolve the Syrian issue peacefully and properly, so as to promote early launch of an inclusive political process led by the Syrian people and extensively participated by all parties, resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiations, and restore stability in Syria. This is in the common interests of Syria, Arab countries and the international community.

To achieve the above goals, the international community should play a positive and constructive role. The actions of the Security Council on the Syrian issue should comply with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and help ease the tensions, help promote political dialogue and defuse disputes, and help maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region, rather than complicate the issue.

On the Syrian issue, China neither shelters nor intentionally opposes anyone. China takes an objective, just and responsible approach．China is always committed to upholding the fundamental and long-term interests of the Syrian people, maintaining peace and stability of Syria and the region, and safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations．Our purpose is to shield the Syrian people from conflicts and warfare. China always maintains that, in handling international relations, countries should refrain from resort to use or threat of force, nor should they push through regime change. China believes that sanctions and pressures are not conducive to proper settlement of problems. This is China's consistent position of principle and its long-standing foreign policy. It serves the overall interests of the international community, particularly the immediate and long-term interests of the small and medium-sized countries and developing countries.

China has done a great deal of work to ease the situation in Syria. China will continue to work with other Member States and play a positive role in the peaceful and proper settlement of the Syrian issue while fully respecting the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

Thank you, Mr. President.