President,

China welcomes the consideration of the General Assembly once again of the issue of Afghanistan. At present, Afghanistan is at a critical stage of peaceful reconstruction. Its overall situation remains stable, its economy gradually improves, and its external exchanges become more active. At the same time, Afghanistan is still facing serious challenges in areas such as humanitarian situation, development, human rights, counter-terrorism and women’s rights. We hope the international community can take a comprehensive and objective view of the situation in Afghanistan and play a constructive role in supporting the early reintegration of Afghanistan into the international community and the early stabilization of the lives of the Afghan people.

First, we must respond to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan. Nearly 23 million Afghan people need humanitarian assistance, but only 15.7% of the humanitarian funds required for this year have been secured, and the drastic reduction in foreign aid by major donors has had a serious impact on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The prompt resumption and scaling up of assistance to Afghanistan, especially to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not politicized or instrumentalized, is crucial to the survival and development of the Afghan people. We call on traditional donors, especially the country that bears historical responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan, to increase their financial input and help the Afghan people overcome difficulties.

Second, we must help Afghanistan achieve independent development. We welcome the recent meetings of the Doha process working groups on private sector development and counter narcotics. We look forward to a greater role of the working groups to achieve more results to better meet the development needs of the Afghan people. We call on all parties to continue to help Afghanistan through bilateral, multilateral, and regional cooperation mechanisms to enhance its capacity for self-driven development and gradually integrate into the regional and world economy. The countries concerned should immediately lift the illegal unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, unconditionally unfreeze and return its overseas assets, and create conditions for Afghanistan to rebuild its financial system, develop its economy, and improve people’s livelihoods.

Third, we must strengthen engagement and dialogue with Afghanistan. The interim government has been in power for nearly four years and has made considerable efforts to advance peaceful reconstruction in the country. China supports the international community in strengthening engagement and exchanges with the interim government in order to enhance understanding and trust and find effective solutions to the concerns of all parties. Historical experience has shown that any action taken by the UN, including the appointment of special envoys or coordinators, should, as far as possible, be communicated with the countries concerned, respect their views, and be fully coordinated with extensive consultations with all stakeholders. Otherwise, not only will it be impossible to implement effectively and achieve the desired results, but it may also run counter to the objectives of engagement and dialogue.

Fourth, the human rights situation in Afghanistan must be improved. Ensuring the basic rights and interests of all Afghans is the expectation of the international community and a necessary requirement for social stability and economic development in Afghanistan. In this regard, ensuring that Afghan women enjoy equal rights to education, employment, and participation in public affairs is the unanimous call of the international community. All parties concerned should continue to engage in dialogue and urge and guide the interim government to pay attention to the concerns of the outside world and take measures to protect the basic rights and interests of women and girls. It should also be noted that women’s rights and interests cannot be realized in a vacuum. By supporting the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, we create conditions conducive to safeguarding the rights and interests of all Afghans, including women.

Fifth, it is imperative to support Afghanistan to resolutely combat terrorism. Terrorist forces such as Daesh, Al Qaeda, the ETIM, and the TTP still pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and to international and regional security. The international community should urge and support the interim government to take stronger counter-terrorism measures while helping the country develop its economy, improve people’s livelihoods, and safeguard human rights, so as to eradicate the breeding ground for terrorism and prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hub for terrorist organizations. On counter-terrorism, we must resolutely oppose double standards and selective approaches as well as the manipulation of the issues of counter-terrorism to serve geopolitical strategies. It is essential to strive to safeguard international counter-terrorism cooperation.

President,

As a friendly neighbor geographically connected to Afghanistan, China has always respected its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and has always taken practical actions to support its peace, stability, development, and prosperity. We encourage and support the interim government to be inclusive and moderate in its governance and to achieve national reconciliation and unity through dialogue and consultation. We have provided substantial emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to help deal with natural disasters and resettle returning refugees. We are actively engaged in economic and trade cooperation with Afghanistan and the China-Afghanistan air corridor of pine nuts generates tens of millions of dollars in income for the Afghan people annually. We have granted hundreds of Afghan women visas to study in China, and the textile factories built by Chinese enterprises have helped a large number of Afghan women realize employment and economic independence.

China has always been committed to enhancing international and regional coordination on the Afghan issue. We have participated actively in the foreign ministers meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Moscow Format, the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral foreign ministers dialogue, and the informal meeting of China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, foreign ministers, and other regional mechanisms on Afghanistan, to promote greater attention to and assistance for Afghanistan by the regional countries, and to help accelerate the country’s connectivity and economic integration with the region. We actively participate in the discussions of Afghanistan at the UN and other multilateral platforms, support UNAMA in playing its bridging role, support the Doha process in achieving more results, support UNDP, UNHCR, and other UN agencies to further increase their assistance to Afghanistan, and endeavor to build common understandings and synergy in the international community to stabilize and help Afghanistan.

President, 

The General Assembly is about to take action on the draft resolution on Afghanistan. Over the past month, Germany, as a facilitator, has organized multiple rounds of consultations, listen to the views of all parties, with a view to achieving consensus. China appreciates its efforts. We believe that there is still room for improvement in the draft resolution and some important views have not been taken on board or reflected. China is ready to continue to communicate and consult with all parties on the relevant issues within the framework of the General Assembly and the Security Council.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that China is ready to continue to work with all parties to make greater efforts and contributions to the early resolution of the Afghan issue and to the realization of lasting peace and security in Afghanistan.

I thank you, President.