President,

China voted in favor of the draft resolution.

Last September, the United States denied visas to and revoked visas for Palestinian officials, preventing the Palestinian delegation from traveling to New York to participate in the general debate of the UN General Assembly. This year, on the eve of the general debate of the current General Assembly session, the United States once again denied visa applications submitted by Palestinian officials. We express our deep concern over this matter.

The United Nations Headquarters Agreement clearly provides that the issuance of visas to representatives of Member States participating in UN meetings constitutes an international obligation of the host country. At a time when the Palestinian people are suffering oppression and the foundations of the two-State solution are being undermined, depriving Palestine of the right to present its case before the UN, make its appeals, and call for international assistance is without legal basis, unacceptable in conscience, and indefensible in reason.

The resolution adopted today provides for special arrangements for Palestine’s participation in the general debate and other activities of the 81st session of the General Assembly. These arrangements represent a temporary remedy, adopted out of necessity to address the unjust treatment endured by Palestine. The resolution clearly stipulates that these arrangements shall not constitute a precedent. This neither absolves the host country of its obligation to issue visas, nor implies that the absence of the Palestinian delegation from the general debate of the General Assembly should become the norm. It should be reiterated that the resolution adopted by the 2024 Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly expressly stipulates that Palestine, as a UN observer State, is entitled to the right to full and effective participation in major UN conferences and international conferences convened under the auspices of the General Assembly President.

President,

The High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UNGA is fast approaching, and high-level delegations from Member States will gather in New York. China urges the host country to strictly abide by relevant international legal instruments—including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the UN Headquarters Agreement, and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations—and effectively discharge its obligations as the host country. It must treat all sovereign States equally, abandon discriminatory practices, and ensure the smooth running of all activities during the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UNGA.

Thank you, President.