China welcomes the Security Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 2379 (2017).

The Iraqi Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Al Abadi, has made substantial progress in advancing institutional reform of the Government, promoting national reconciliation, easing the humanitarian situation and fostering economic development. China commends those efforts. We hope that Iraq will achieve national security and stability at an early date and that the Iraqi people will soon lead a peaceful and stable life.

The terrorist acts in Iraq committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seriously threaten the peace and security of Iraq, as well as those of the region and the world. China commends the Iraqi Government for its unrelenting efforts in combating ISIL and the progress it has achieved in combating terrorism. China supports Iraq in its efforts to bring ISIL members to justice, in accordance with its domestic laws, and supports the international community in providing assistance to the Iraqi Government at its request.

Resolution 2379 (2017) specifies in accordance with the principle of respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq, the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations to establish an investigative team to assist the Iraqi Government in collecting evidence of ISIL’s crimes committed in Iraq; and emphasizes that the investigative team shall respect the sovereignty and jurisprudence of Iraq and carry out its responsibilities strictly in accordance with the term of reference, and any use of relevant evidence must be agreed by the Iraqi Government.

The Iraqi Government recognizes the content of the resolution and China supports this. We hope that the resolution will be implemented effectively and play a constructive role in strengthening the capacity-building of the Iraqi Government in seeking accountability for terrorist organizations in Iraq.

The international counter-terrorism situation remains serious. Terrorist organizations, such as ISIL and Al-Qaida, are conducting terrorist activities and spreading extremist ideologies in many different ways. The international community should strengthen cooperation, support all counter-terrorism efforts, including those of Iraq, unify standards, adopt effective measures, and resolutely combat terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council. China shall continue to work with Iraq and all other countries in a joint effort to make new progress in international counter-terrorism cooperation.