China would like to thank you, Sir, for your briefing in your capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004), concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We commend the fact that the 1533 Committee, under your leadership, has worked very efficiently and produced excellent results. China will continue to support you in your efforts.

China welcomes the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Okitundu, to the Security Council. China was concerned over the murder of members of the Group of Experts of the Sanctions Committee and would like extend its deepest condolences to the families. The safety of United Nations personnel must be ensured. Any attack on United Nations personnel is unacceptable.

So far this year, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has worked to further the peace process and established the new transitional Government. It has worked actively to strengthen its capacity in the areas of governance and security. China welcomes those efforts. At the same time, however, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face various challenges in the political, security and humanitarian spheres, in particular in the eastern part of the country, where armed rebel groups are active. That is one of the main causes of instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the region as a whole.

Ensuring the stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an important foundation for furthering the political process and carrying out national reconstruction. It is a pressing task for the international community to urge all parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular certain opposition parties, to put an immediate end to the violence, continue to be committed to the political process and support the political agreement reached. China commends the active role played by African regional and subregional organizations, such as the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, as well as by neighboring countries, to find a solution to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We encourage parties in the region to maximize their respective advantages in the quest for a peaceful solution. The Security Council must enhance its coordination efforts in order to send a united and clear message and to forge synergies in the international community.

In order to help resolve the issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the international community must fully respect the Government’s leading role. Solutions designed by the international community will be effective only when they respect the Government’s leadership and the choices of the country’s people.

To date, the Security Council has adopted various measures, which focus on the illicit activities of the armed groups and have garnered a number of results. At the same time, we must note that sanctions are not an end in themselves; they are a means to an end. They should serve to achieve peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

China appreciates the importance that the Committee attaches to cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and regional organizations. We welcome the Chair’s plan to visit the country in October. We hope that the sanctions Committee will continue its consultations and maintain contact with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, as the situation evolves, will examine sanctions measures in a timely manner and play an active role in helping the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to achieve peace and stability in the country on their own.

The Chinese Government has always supported the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, to the extent possible, has provided assistance to the country. China is ready to work with the international community in continuing to play a constructive role for peace, stability and development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.