Chair,

I thank you for convening today's meeting. And I welcome the presence and statements of His Excellency President Nova, His Excellency President Verissimo, Special Representative Abarry, and other distinguished speakers. I also thank the briefers for their informative briefings.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the independence of São Tomé and Príncipe. At the outset, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and people of São Tomé and Príncipe on this special occasion.

In recent years, under the leadership of President Nova, São Tomé and Príncipe has made continued progress in improving the governance of the country and people's livelihoods, and in justice and security sector reform. It has also strengthened its communication and collaboration with ECCAS and UNOCA.

China commends São Tomé and Príncipe for its positive response to the Pact for the Future and its conflict prevention strategy. We hope that the PBC will continue to provide strong support for the establishment of a conflict prevention mechanism in the country.

At the same time, we should also recognize that São Tomé and Príncipe still faces many challenges to its development, both domestic and external, particularly in the context of a volatile global economic environment. The relevant UN agencies and the PBC should pay due attention to these challenges, and offer targeted, development-oriented advice and assistance. The PBC should ensure the ownership and leadership of the country concerned, prioritize development, and facilitate joint collaboration. It should play its role as a convenor and a bridge in mobilizing resources from the relevant UN departments, the Peacebuilding Fund, and various financial institutions and regional organizations, so as to help São Tomé and Príncipe implement its national development strategy and build a solid foundation for its long-term stability and security.

Chair,

China and São Tomé and Príncipe are good brothers, good friends, and good partners. Our cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has yielded remarkable results. Next month, the ministerial coordinators' meeting on the implementation of FOCAC outcomes will be held in China. We believe that the meeting will provide new impetus to the cooperation between China and São Tomé and Príncipe and to the broader China-Africa cooperation in general.

Together with the international community, China stands ready to contribute to the lasting peace, development, and prosperity of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Thank you, Chair.