President, 

I thank you for convening today’s meeting. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee for her briefing, and welcome the representatives of both the DRC and Rwanda to today’s meeting. 

The conflict and violence in eastern DRC are persisting unabated, taking a fresh and continuing toll on civilian lives. This is worrying. The international community must do more to deescalate the situation, and help restore peace in the region. I would like to make the following points. 

First, violence against civilians is unacceptable. Reports indicate that over the past month, armed groups in eastern DRC have repeatedly attacked civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure, causing hundreds of deaths. China stands against these attacks and condemns them, and supports serious investigations into them to establish accountability. The international community must urge all armed groups in eastern DRC to respect international humanitarian law, desist from violence, and engage in disarmament processes, and must support the DRC in protecting the lives and property of civilians, including foreign nationals. We must not allow civilians to fall prey to conflict. China reiterates its support for the DRC Government’s efforts to uphold sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. 

Second, the momentum for dialogue and negotiation should be maintained. The recent positive engagement between the DRC and Rwanda created a promising momentum, which China welcomes. The international community must, as a matter of urgency, call on both countries to fulfill their commitments and obligations, including those under Security Council Resolution 2773 that was adopted by consensus, and work together towards the political settlement of the conflict. Facilitators of the peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda must honor their respective duties to see to it that the situation on the ground genuinely improves and the processes are not stalled. China commends Qatar’s mediation in leading to the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the DRC and M23. As the Doha negotiations enter the most critical and challenging phase, China calls on M23 to cease hostilities and engage in bona fide dialogue with the DRC Government. We look forward to Qatar working on both parties to conclude without delay a lasting peace agreement that addresses the root causes of the conflict. The African Union and subregional organizations have long been working to end the conflict in eastern DRC. The international community should support a greater role of the UN and regional mechanisms. 

Third, the humanitarian crisis in the region demands urgent attention. Continued violence in eastern DRC has displaced millions, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the region, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children. In the current context, there is no time to lose to ensure humanitarian access and scaling up humanitarian operations is all the more urgent. The international community should support the reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports to deliver essential food, water, and medical supplies and help displaced people return home. The UN has repeatedly warned of severe funding shortages for humanitarian response in the region. Traditional donors must fulfill their international obligations and urgently fill the funding gap to alleviate the suffering of affected populations. 

President, 

Eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict and violence for too long. The protracted conflict not only destabilizes the DRC, but also undermines regional peace and development. Countries in the region are and always will be neighbors, and as such, they sink or swim together. Only by rejecting force, enhancing cooperation， and pursuing common development, can peace be preserved, stability promoted, and prosperity shared. The international community must continue to act impartially and responsibly to help restore peace in the region. China will continue to work constructively to this end. 

Thank you, President.