Chair,

The Chinese delegation congratulates you and the Bureau members on your election, and welcomes the presence of His Excellency Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein of Argentina at today’s meeting.

China’s position on the question of the Malvinas Islands is consistent and clear. We firmly support Argentina’s legitimate claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, and have always advocated the settlement of territorial disputes between states through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We urge the UK to respond positively to Argentina’s request to resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible and find a peaceful, just, and lasting solution pursuant to relevant UN resolutions.

Chair,

The question of the Malvinas Islands is a historical legacy of colonialism. Historically, colonialism was fraught with forcible conquest, political suppression, economic exploitation, and racial discrimination, leaving in its wake scarred memories and countless crimes. The UN, since its establishment, has been actively promoting the decolonization process. However, 80 years later, the historical task of decolonization has not been fully completed with the vicious consequences from the colonial era in various forms and manifestations and the colonial thinking and mentality still persistent. A few countries, instead of deeply reflecting on the past, are trying to turn back the clock, pursuing power politics, being obsessed with the use of force, brandishing the priority of their own country, and attempting to wantonly bully, humiliate, and exploit other countries all in their own selfish interests. Such behaviors seriously infringe on the sovereignty, security, and development interests of other countries, gravely violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and severely impact the order of global political and economic governance. China categorically opposes these acts, and calls on the international community, especially countries in the Global South, to unite in closer cooperation to jointly eradicate the manifestations of colonialism in today’s world and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.

I thank you, Chair.