President, 

I commend Sierra Leone for taking the initiative to convene this important meeting, and welcome you to New York to preside over it. I thank Secretary-General António Guterres and President Omar Alieu Touray for their briefings. I welcome the representatives of regional countries to the meeting. 

At present, in West Africa and the Sahel, terrorist and extremist forces and transnational criminal groups are intensifying their collusion and rampant activities, further worsening the security situation. The international community needs to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with regional countries and provide greater support for peace consolidation in the region. I wish to make three points. 

First, it is important to enhance regional countries' own counter-terrorism capacity. In the face of the increasingly complex and severe counter-terrorism landscape, only by building professional, efficient, and well-equipped security forces, can West African countries effectively combat terrorist forces and truly reverse the situation. The international community needs to embrace common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and provide tailored assistance to regional countries to close the gaps in funding, intelligence, equipment, and logistics, among others. As counter-terrorism capacity-building concerns the internal affairs of states, the international community, when providing assistance, must fully respect the sovereignty and leadership of the countries concerned and support regional countries in adopting policies and actions suited to their national circumstances. 

Second, it is important to strengthen common security in West Africa. Recently, terrorist groups have launched frequent attacks using drones and other new weapons, expanding their reach towards the West African coast, while exerting pressure on the countries concerned through fuel blockades, armed kidnappings, and other means. This is deeply concerning. As various security threats are increasingly interconnected, regional countries must coordinate and cooperate in their response. The international community should support regional mechanisms such as ECOWAS,the Alliance of Sahel States, and the Multinational Joint Task Force in strengthening collaboration and enhancing coordination in joint military operations, border patrols and controls, and the escort of strategic supplies, so as to strengthen cooperation networks and the synergy of efforts. China supports African solutions to African problems and expects the full operationalization of Security Council Resolution 2719 to provide adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding support for AU-led peace operations. 

Third, it is important to focus on the sustainable development of regional countries. Some countries in West Africa and the Sahel have weak economic foundations and inadequate social services, which provide a breeding ground for terrorist organizations to spread extremist ideologies and recruit members. To achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, it is essential to address social and economic challenges and eliminate the root causes of terrorism. The international community should not only focus on short-term support such as humanitarian assistance, but also on long-term investments in areas such as poverty alleviation, employment, and infrastructure to help regional countries enhance their capacity for sustainable development. Special attention should be paid to the development of youth by providing them with education and vocational skills training, as well as employment and entrepreneurship support, guiding them to play a role in conflict prevention and resolution, and reducing the impact of terrorism on young people. 

President, 

China always firmly supports Africa's peace and security and resolutely opposes terrorism in all its forms. For a long time, through platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, China has supported countries in West Africa and the Sahel in strengthening capacity-building and conducting counter-terrorism operations, which has been warmly welcomed by regional countries. Guided by the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, China will work with the international community to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel and make greater contributions to peace and security in the region and across Africa. 

Thank you, President.