Mr. President,

China appreciates the briefing delivered by Under-Secretary-General Fletcher to the G77 and China. China supports the United Nations in playing its coordinating role in international humanitarian assistance, and commends the relentless efforts of OCHA and all humanitarian agencies.

Guided by the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China extends a helping hand to developing countries in need. In response to floods, earthquakes, disease outbreaks and armed conflicts across multiple regions this year, China has provided humanitarian assistance to Nepal, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and other countries. Working hand in hand with UN humanitarian agencies and overcoming obstacles, China has delivered critical supplies to Gaza. 

China attaches importance to the consultation process on OCHA’s Strategic Plan for 2027–2030 and supports necessary reforms. On the four reform pillars, China has the following observations and questions:

First, on coordination. OCHA plans to strengthen coordination to ensure that the most urgent crises receive priority support. China supports OCHA in fully exercising its coordinating function. Could OCHA elaborate on how it plans to coordinate other humanitarian actors, including non-UN agencies, to deliver assistance in a fair, impartial and efficient manner? How will it ensure that assistance reaches more crises that are out of the spotlight?

Second, on field presence. OCHA will focus its deployment to strengthen national and local capacities in recipient countries. China believes that genuine localization can only be achieved by fully respecting the views of recipient countries and boosting local development and self-reliance capacities. Will OCHA scale down its country presence in some locations? How will it advance localization?

Third, on dynamic adjustment. OCHA will assess when to expand, scale back or hand over functions to focus international support. What assessment criteria will OCHA adopt? Which humanitarian crises merit prioritized international support? What role will Member States play in decision-making?

Fourth, on expanding impact. OCHA plans to scale up resource mobilization and expand the use of country-based pooled funds. When using large-scale donor funding from individual countries, how will OCHA prevent the politicization and instrumentalization of humanitarian assistance?

China will continue to actively engage in international humanitarian affairs and support the work of OCHA. We welcome close communication between OCHA and developing countries.

Thank you, Mr. President.