China thanks the United Kingdom for convening today’s meeting and Secretary-General Guterres for his briefing. We listened attentively to the statements made by Chairman Mogae and Ms. Sunday.

Recent events show that the situation in South Sudan continues to be complicated. President Kiir has put forward an initiative on holding a national dialogue and promoting economic development. Meanwhile, the Government of South Sudan is facing numerous difficulties in implementing the peace agreement, maintaining national stability and addressing the humanitarian crisis and the famine.

China hopes that the international community will provide assistance in the following four areas: first, it should forcefully push for a political settlement of the issue of South Sudan, since that is the only possible solution. The international community should continue to push all the parties in South Sudan to cease hostilities, return to the political settlement track and effectively implement the peace agreement. China welcomes President Kiir’s initiative on holding a national dialogue and hopes that all of the parties in South Sudan will actively participate in that process, settle their differences through dialogue and consultations and promote reconciliation in a joint effort to achieve national peace, stability and development.

Secondly, the role of regional and subregional organizations should be brought into full play. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU) have done extensive mediation work on that issue. The United Nations should give full play to the comparative advantages and respective roles of IGAD and the AU, step up efforts to implement the joint statement signed by the three parties in January during the AU Summit and lend greater support to mediation efforts led by Chairman Mogae of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission and AU High Representative President Konaré, so as to create synergy in seeking a resolution to the situation in South Sudan.

Thirdly, we must enhance the capacity of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to fulfill its mandate. China is in favor of UNMISS playing a constructive role in assisting all of the parties in South Sudan to implement the peace agreement, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. We hope that the Government of South Sudan will actively implement the joint communiqué issued with the Security Council, as well as the relevant Council resolutions, support UNMISS in fulfilling its mandate, and cooperate with the deployment of the regional protection force and increasing consultations with the United Nations and IGAD, thereby properly addressing any issues that might arise in the cooperation process.

Fourthly, South Sudan must be actively helped to address the famine. We hope that the international community will provide active support to the disaster relief efforts of the South Sudanese Government, encourage all of the parties in South Sudan to act in the overall interest of the people and create favorable conditions for the speedy delivery of disaster relief to affected areas. The international community should help the Government increase investment in agriculture and infrastructure and enhance the Government’s capacity for self-reliance and disaster resilience so as to promote sustainable economic and social development.

The Chinese Government has actively participated in and promoted the peace process in South Sudan by pushing for peace talks and dispatching peacekeepers. China has made its contribution to the peace process in South Sudan. Recently, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs visited Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, and exchanged views with the countries in the region on the situation in South Sudan. China will continue to play a constructive role in restoring peace, stability and development in South Sudan.