Mr. President,

I have listened carefully to the briefings by Ms. Saad, Director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and Mr. Taksyur.

Religion is an important part of human civilization and an important embodiment of the culture of humankind. Peace, unity, harmony and amity are goals and principles universally practiced by different religions around the world. However, wars and conflicts triggered by religious reasons have also left a bitter lesson for humankind throughout history. Religious issues are often complex and sensitive. If not handled properly, they can easily intensify disagreements, fuel confrontation and lead to conflict. China has always advocated that different religions and religious factions need to respect each other, enhance exchanges and promote harmony, and foster a culture of peace so as to inject positives into enhancing mutual trust, easing tensions and maintaining peace.

Mr. President,

The Ukraine crisis has dragged on till this day, and the spillover effects are increasingly visible, triggering the emergence of problems in various fields. The fundamental way to resolve these problems lies in realizing a political solution to the Ukraine issue. Military means are not the way out; dialogue and negotiation are the right choice. China hopes that the parties concerned will stay rational, exercise restraint and restart peace talks as soon as possible, and calls on the international community to create a conducive atmosphere and accumulate the necessary conditions for that purpose. China will continue to stand on the side of peace and dialogue and, together with the international community, make unremitting efforts to promote a political solution to the Ukraine issue.

I thank you, Mr. President.