President,

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and Acting Assistant Secretary-General Indrika Ratwatte for their briefings, and welcome the Permanent Representative of Yemen to today’s meeting.

China has taken note of the letter dated 6 July from the Permanent Representative of Yemen to the President of the Security Council, as well as the relevant reports, and is seriously concerned about the escalating tensions surrounding Sanaa International Airport. We have always maintained that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region, including Yemen, should be respected, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld, and that civilians, humanitarian workers, and civilian objects should be protected. We call on all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation.

President,

The issue of Yemen is closely linked to the overall situation in the Middle East. With the situation in the Middle East remaining tense, the international community should strengthen unity and coordination, pool efforts for peace, and jointly safeguard the peace process in the Middle East. I would like to make three points.

First, maximum restraint must be exercised to avoid further escalation. Recently, tensions in the Middle East have continued to escalate. The ceasefire arrangement reached between the United States and Iran is being challenged, which is deeply concerning. A renewed outbreak of hostilities serves no one's interests, and military means cannot resolve the issues. The United States and Iran should faithfully implement the memorandum of understanding they have signed, refrain from making threatening statements or resorting to the use of force, and bring to an early end the hostilities and conflict that should never have occurred. All parties concerned with the issue of Yemen should refrain from taking any action that could escalate the situation or undermine mutual trust, so as to prevent new conflicts. True peace has yet to be achieved in Gaza, and the ceasefire agreement should be fully observed. China welcomes the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and urges all relevant parties to cease hostilities immediately.

Second, dialogue and consultation must be advanced to peacefully resolve differences. All parties should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's right to survival and development, respect each other's legitimate security concerns, and remain committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation. China calls on the United States and Iran to resume follow-up negotiations as soon as possible and reach, at an early date, a comprehensive agreement that is agreed upon by both sides, accepted by regional countries, and welcomed by the international community. The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming safe and free passage in the Strait at an early date serves the interests of all sides. A proper settlement is needed to address issues concerning the passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The shared concerns in the international community need a proper response. The Yemeni Government and the Houthi group should fully implement the prisoner exchange agreement already reached, gradually build mutual trust, restart the peace process in Yemen, and launch national reconstruction. The detained UN personnel should be released as soon as possible. The international community should further step up humanitarian assistance to Yemen. Countries in the region should create favorable conditions for this and play a constructive role.

Third, peaceful coexistence must be upheld and common security should be built. Countries in the Middle East and Gulf region are interdependent and inseparable neighbors. History has repeatedly shown that there are no winners in wars and conflicts, and that peaceful coexistence is the only right path. The international community should respect the history and cultural traditions of the Middle East, support countries in the region in maintaining strategic autonomy and improving mutual relations, replace confrontation with cooperation, resolve longstanding grievances through reconciliation, and promote the building of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture for the Middle East and the Gulf region, so that the region can finally break free from the recurring cycle of conflicts and truly achieve lasting peace.

President,

China has always been a builder of peace, a promoter of stability, and a contributor to development in the Middle East. Guided by President Xi Jinping's four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, China will continue to work with all parties and make unremitting efforts to advance the political settlement of hotspot issues in the Middle East and realize lasting peace and stability in the region.

I thank you, President.