Mr. President,

China expresses its condemnation to the incident of attack that took place in the New York City yesterday, condolences to the victims and sympathy to those injured and the bereaved families.

China associates itself with the statement made by Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

In 2015, the UN Development Summit adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ushering in a new era for the global cause of sustainable development and charting the course for the development of all countries and international cooperation in this regard. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda is the core task of the whole world in the field of development and all countries need to adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and benefit sharing, join hands in responding to challenges, create new opportunities for development, seek new drivers for development and use their respective advantages to help each other, so as to achieve mutually beneficial win-win outcome. Under these circumstances, the economic blockade and sanctions imposed on Cuba by the United States ought to end immediately.

For 25 consecutive years, the UN General Assembly has adopted by overwhelming majority the resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”, urging all states to abide by the UN Charter and principles of international law, and repeal or invalidate all laws and measure that have extraterritorial effects and affect the sovereignty of other states and the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation.

It is regrettable, however, that for years, these resolutions have not been effectively implemented and the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States continue. The blockade violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, caused enormous economic and financial losses to Cuba, impeded the efforts of the Cuban people to realize the SDGs, including poverty eradication, undermined the rights of the Cuban people to survival and to development, and affected other states’ normal economic, commercial and financial exchanges with Cuba.

Mr. President,

China has always advocated respect for the right of each country to independently choose its own social system and path towards development, and opposed unilateral sanctions against other states by military, political, economic or other means. China has strictly observed and implemented the relevant GA resolutions. We have maintained with Cuba economic and trade relations and people to people exchanges, and our friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields are making continuous progress. This is in line with the desire of our two peoples and conducive to the economic and social development of Cuba.

Currently, the world is undergoing great development, great transformation and great adjustment. Peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcome have become the trend of our time. Exchanges and cooperation on an equal footing among countries are part of this general trend, and dialogue on an equal footing and friendly consultation represent the best way to resolve differences. The recent restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba was an important step towards the normalization of their relations. China hopes that the US and Cuba continue to advance the process of normalization of their relationship and that the United States comprehensively repeal its policy of blockade against Cuba as soon as possible. This is in the common interest of both the US and Cuba and their peoples, and is favorable to the peace and stability of the Americas as well as the common development of the international community. China will once again vote in favor of the draft resolution submitted by Cuba under this agenda item.

Thank you, Mr. President.