President,

I thank Deputy Special Envoy Claudio Cordone and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings, and I welcome the representatives of Syria, Türkiye, and the State of Palestine to today's meeting.

Recently, tensions in the Middle East have escalated once again, and the ceasefire has repeatedly come under strain, introducing new complexities to the resolution of regional hotspot issues. As an important country in the region, the early restoration of peace and stability in Syria in a comprehensive manner will help promote the overall de-escalation of the regional situation, serve the common interests of all countries in the region, and meet the shared expectations of the international community. I would like to make three points.

First, an inclusive political transition is an important cornerstone for restoring peace and stability in Syria. The establishment of a national legislative body is an important step in the political transition. China notes that the Syrian People's Assembly recently held its first session. We support the Syrian transitional government and all Syrian parties in prioritizing the fundamental interests of the Syrian people, strengthening internal unity, constructively resolving differences, and jointly advancing an inclusive political transition. A Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process is the greatest common denominator of the international community's approach to the Syrian issue and should continue to be upheld. The relocation of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria (OSESG-Syria) to Syria will help the United Nations play a more effective role. We hope that the Syrian transitional government will provide support in this regard.

Second, combating terrorism in all its forms is a key prerequisite for restoring peace and stability in Syria. Terrorism is the common enemy of all humanity, and counter-terrorism is an international obligation that all countries must fulfill. Recently, several terrorist attacks occurred in Aleppo, Raqqa, and other places, and a series of explosions took place in Damascus, demonstrating that terrorism remains a major threat to Syria's national reconstruction. China condemns the terrorist attacks and extends its condolences to the victims and their families. Foreign terrorist fighters continue to operate in Syria, which seriously runs counter to the Syrian people's strong aspiration for stability and development. This issue demands our serious attention. The Syrian transitional government should remain resolute in combating terrorism, take effective measures, and resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

Third, focusing on development is the fundamental solution to restoring peace and stability in Syria. For some time, thanks to the joint efforts of the Syrian transitional government, United Nations humanitarian agencies, and other parties, the humanitarian situation in Syria has improved, which China commends. We support the Syrian transitional government in making development a priority of governance, formulating sound domestic and foreign policies, properly addressing the security concerns of foreign investors, unleashing development potential, promoting economic recovery, continuously improving people's livelihoods, and embarking on a path of sustainable development suited to Syria's national conditions.

President,

China supports Syria in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The Golan Heights are internationally recognized occupied Syrian territory, and the Security Council resolutions on the Golan Heights should be implemented. Israel should immediately cease all military operations in Syria and withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible. Civilians and civilian infrastructure should not be targets of attack. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Syria relations and stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development at an early date and jointly build a better future.

I thank you, President.