Madam President,

I wish to thank SRSG Mr. Swan, Mr. Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Ms. Laranjinha, Managing Director of the European External Action Service for their briefings and welcome the foreign minister of Somalia for his presence at today's meeting.

The current situation in Somalia is at a critical juncture. The parties in Somalia have continued to negotiate regarding the elections, while the international community is actively preparing for the security transition in Somalia. At the same time, the security and humanitarian situation in Somalia remains very fragile. China strongly condemns the recent multiple violent terrorist attacks in Somalia and expresses deep condolences to the victims. Here I would like to highlight the following three points.

First, no efforts can be spared in maintaining political stability in Somalia. Though the parties in Somalia have recently tried to maintain the momentum of dialogue on the elections, relevant differences have been dragged on without a solution for a long time, which not only hinders efforts to rebuild the country, but also leads to political instability and even deterioration of the security situation. China is concerned over the recent violent incidents in Mogadishu. We call on all parties in Somalia to exercise restraint, maintain dialogue, show flexibility and find a proper solution to the political deadlock as soon as possible, so that the elections can be held sooner to restore political stability in Somalia and to create a favorable environment for focusing their efforts on national construction to avoid reversal of earlier gains.

Second, the security situation in Somalia needs continuous improvement. Somalia will need to rely on itself to achieve peace and stability in the country above all. The international community has already reached consensus on the gradual assumption by Somalia of its security responsibilities, while affirming that AMISOM remains indispensable under the current situation. All parties should follow the principle of a "Somali-led, Somalia-owned" solution to reach an agreement on a steady and orderly transfer of security responsibilities. AMISOM is an African Union peacekeeping operation authorized by the Security Council. A strong partnership of UN and AU is essential to the success of AMISOM. The roles of the United Nations, the African Union, the troop contributing countries and the role of the host country are all indispensable. China supports the parties in strengthening communication on the renewal of AMISOM to find a solution acceptable to all.

Third, we need to help Somalia cope with humanitarian and development challenges. The compound effect of COVID-19, floods, and locust infestation have exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Somalia. About one third of its population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The international community should scale up its assistance to ameliorate the difficult situation of the people of Somalia and also actively help Somalia develop its economy to improve people's livelihood. China welcomes the efforts of the Somali government to meet the completion point requirements to achieve debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries, and expects the international community to provide a more lenient environment for the development of Somalia.

China has always been engaged in helping Somalia achieve peace and development. We have recently donated multiple batches of supplies to Somalia to support the country in strengthening its judicial capacity building. We will also provide COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Somalia upon request. China will continue to work with the international community to make contributions within its capacity to peace and reconstruction in Somalia.

Thank you, Madam President.