I thank the Russian Federation for organizing today's open debate on the topic "Women and peace and security: implementing the common agenda". I also thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Executive Director Mlambo-Ngcuka for their briefings. I also listened carefully to the briefings delivered by the representatives of civil society.

Thanks to the common efforts of Member States, United Nations organs and regional organizations, the implementation of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security has recently made progress. The international community has undertaken comprehensive efforts to protect women's security, safeguard their rights and interests and push for a greater role for women on peace and security. Those efforts have resulted in progress. At the same time, the international security situation remains complex and grave, with the frequent occurrence of regional conflicts. In some countries and regions, the threats of terrorism and violent extremism are on the rise. And women, being a vulnerable group in that regard, bear the brunt of such violence. The international community should closely coordinate and cooperate in providing assistance and comprehensively enhancing the all-round protection of women in conflict situations. I wish to emphasize the following points.

First, the political settlement of regional hot-spot issues needs to be promoted so as to create a favorable external environment for the protection of women's rights and interests. The international community should advocate the concepts of win-win cooperation and peaceful development, assist the countries concerned, advance political settlements and national reconciliation and promote dialogue and consultations as ways of resolving differences and of ensuring that women are spared the impact of conflicts and are able to enjoy a peace dividend. The full participation of women in decision-making needs to be ensured at all stages of peace processes so that they can leverage their unique advantages and act as a positive force in peacemaking.

Secondly, comprehensive economic and social development needs to be promoted in order to provide a sound basis for women's empowerment. The international community should help the countries concerned in carrying out post-conflict reconstruction by supporting them in enhancing capacity-building so as to promote economic and social development and better protect women's rights and interests. The international community should actively provide development assistance and technical support to developing countries to help them promote gender equality and women's empowerment, and at the same time guide women's groups and civil society so that they can play a positive and constructive role in that respect.

Thirdly, cooperation among the various organs of the United Nations should be promoted to generate synergies aimed at protecting women in conflict situations. The Security Council should fully shoulder its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, accord priority to issues related to women, peace and security and strengthen coordination with the relevant organs, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and UN-Women. As part of that process, the various organs of the United Nations should fully utilize existing mechanisms and improve their efficiency, and, at the same time, place strong emphasis on the role of regional and subregional organizations in protecting women in conflicts.

Fourthly, attention must be given to combating sexual violence in conflicts in order to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of women. The international community should pay close attention to the heinous acts of terrorists and extremists violating women and aggressively combat such actions. The international community should also pay attention to the leading role of the countries concerned and help them to comprehensively implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and enhance their ability to combat sexual violence. The international community should respond appropriately to terrorist threats, advance international counter-terrorism cooperation and take comprehensive measures to protect women from terrorist and extremist forces.

In September last year, China and the United Nations jointly sponsored the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. Chinese President Xi Jinping and representatives from more than 140 countries, including approximately 80 Heads of State or Government, attended the Summit. The Summit forged an international consensus, with world leaders recommitting themselves to implementing the outcome of the Beijing World Conference on Women. That will have a major and profound impact on the global women's cause. President Xi Jinping announced at the Summit China's new commitments in support of the development of the global women's cause, including contributing to UN-Women and providing assistance to developing countries. Those commitments demonstrate China's firm resolve and practical action in its commitment to the healthy development of the global women's cause. China is making comprehensive efforts to implement those commitments.

In May, the 2016 Chinese presidency of the Group of 20 (G-20) held the Women 20 Meeting in Xi'an, under the theme "Equal participation and innovative development", in an effort to push for equal participation of women in economic development and global governance, as well as for improvement in women's economic empowerment. China is willing to work together with the rest of the international community to continue to push for the implementation of the goals regarding women, peace and security and to make tireless efforts towards further progress in the global women's cause.