President, 

To ensure a smooth mandate renewal for UNIFIL, and especially considering the position of Lebanon, the host country, China voted in favor of Resolution 2790, which was just adopted. I will make three points. 

First, for some time, the situation between Lebanon and Israel has remained tense, with Israel occupying five locations in southern Lebanon and two buffer zones, launching frequent attacks on Lebanon, causing massive civilian casualties and civilian infrastructure damage. The Council just adopted Resolution 2790, categorically calling for the implementation in good faith of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement, unequivocally urging Israel to withdraw all its troops from southern Lebanon, clearly reaffirming its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and sending a strong political message to end the violent conflict and restore peace and stability between Lebanon and Israel. We hope that all parties concerned will effectively implement the resolution, find a solution through dialogue and consultations, support UNIFIL’s active fulfillment of its mandate, ensure UNIFIL’s safety and security and its freedom of movement, work jointly to fully implement Council Resolution 1701, and achieve lasting peace in Lebanon and Israel. 

Second, for years, UNIFIL has significantly contributed to the maintenance of peace and stability along the Blue Line and in the wider region. The international community has broadly recognized and commended its contribution, and expects UNIFIL to continue its role. Regrettably, despite the thorough, constructive efforts and flexibility shown by France, the penholder, and other Council members, due to the stubborn insistence of a permanent member, Resolution 2790 represents the last mandate renewal for UNIFIL, which will have to end its mandate and start withdrawal by the end of 2026. Indeed, no UN mission should exist permanently, but no mission should withdraw in haste while the situation remains tense. With the situation on the ground being fragile, UNIFIL’s role in maintaining stability is indispensable. However, in total disregard of the tensions on the ground, in total disregard of the legitimate concerns of Lebanon as the host country, and in total disregard of the strong voices of the vast majority of Council members, a permanent member has gone its own way and forcibly pushed for the closure of UNIFIL in a bit over one year’s time. This practice of imposing one’s will on others and taking ill-conceived and arbitrary actions is disappointing. 

Third, setting the deadline for closing UNIFIL comes at a time when the UN is experiencing a serious liquidity crisis, and the member states are discussing the UN80 Initiative. China believes that the most direct and effective solution to the current liquidity crisis lies in all member states paying their assessments to the regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and without conditions. China supports the necessary reform of the United Nations to reduce personnel and expenditure and improve quality and efficiency, with a view to better adapting to the changing reality. But this should be done on the premise of ensuring that the UN, especially the Security Council, could continue to perform its functions. Reform cannot become a reason for non fulfillment of financial obligations, let alone an excuse for arbitrarily abolishing PKOs regardless of the situation on the ground. UN PKOs are the collective decisions of the Council and reflect the collective will of the Council. A certain country, based on its own strategies and policies, categorizes the existing UN PKOs into different tiers, retains what it deems useful to itself, and closes what it deems useless to itself. This selfish and irresponsible behavior is not acceptable and should be rejected.

Thank you, President.