China has been closely following the situation in the Horn of Africa and welcomes the progress made by the Federal Government of Somalia in promoting the political process and reconstruction. We commend the African Union Mission in Somalia and the countries of the region for their contribution to the fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. We call on the international community to continue to help Somalia in its State-building efforts. We support the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali National Army in their efforts to speedily achieve peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The Horn of Africa is geographically important, and peace and stability there have a direct bearing on the interests of the countries of the region, which should live side by side as neighbors and belong to an interdependent community with a shared future and intertwined interests. They all face the important task of achieving economic development and improving the benefits to their people, which will require a peaceful and stable environment. Harmony benefits the countries of the region, whereas confrontation harms them.

China sincerely hopes that the countries of the region will take into account the bigger picture of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the fundamental interests of its peoples, strengthen good-neighborly relationships, promote unity and cooperation, and reconcile their differences through dialogue and consultation, which are in the common interests of all the countries of the region.

The sanctions set out in the relevant resolutions of the Security Council are not conducive to achieving the aforementioned objectives. China hopes that the Security Council will take the changes on the ground into account, continuously revisit the relevant content of its resolutions, and make timely adjustments. China also hopes that the relevant country will adhere to the principle of maintaining friendly relations with its neighbors, heed their legitimate concerns and adopt practical measures to improve relations with its neighbors so as to achieve common security, mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.

China is ready to continue to play its constructive role in achieving peace, stability and development in the Horn of Africa.