Mr. President,

China expresses deep dissatisfaction and regret over the United States' request for a vote on China's Country Programme. We firmly reject the unwarranted accusations made by the U.S. side. It is the United States, not China, that engages in retaliatory measures and suppression against other countries.

China's Country Programme with UNDP focuses on practical needs such as poverty reduction, rural revitalization, green development, and low-carbon transition. It addresses the prominent challenges of insufficient and unbalanced development, fully reflecting the principle of national ownership and leadership. China's Country Programme is fully aligned with international standards and norms, and has a solid foundation .

The development of any countries is achieved through the accumulation of countless efforts, like streams converging into a vast ocean. China's achievements are the result of decades of hard work and perseverance by the Chinese people. China acknowledges the assistance provided by UNDP and other UN development agencies over the years, and we have actively engaged in mutual learning and integration into global development processes. Leaving no one and no country behind is not merely a slogan for China but a commitment we consistently uphold.

As the world's second-largest economy and the second-largest contributor to the UN assessed countribution, China continues to contribute to global development and the UN cause. China remains a developing country, sharing a common destiny with the Global South. During difficult times, China provided selfless assistance to other developing countries, and we continue to do so now and in the future. China will engage with UNDP on cooperation models and directions in accordance with the rules of the Executive Board.

China is like an ocean, steadfast and eternal. In today's world of interwoven transformations and upheavals, all parties should provide development financing when it is most needed—not withdraw investments or cut off support, as the United States has done. We must uphold the development consensus rather than abandon the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We must insist on unity and cooperation, not political manipulation. China calls on Executive Board members to jointly safeguard the Board's rules, support the review and approval of China's Country Programme, and cast a historic vote of clarity against the U.S. actions that run counter to the trend of history. As the United Nations approaches its 80th anniversary, let us send a unified voice in support of development and multilateralism. The world is watching.

Thank you, Mr. President.