Thank you, Madam President.

I thank Acting Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov for his briefing.

At present, the Middle East is undergoing profound changes, with hotspot issues compounding and resonating with one another, and their spillover effects continuously undermining regional security and development. Peace, not war; dialogue, not confrontation; fairness, not hegemony, have increasingly become the universal aspirations and shared hopes of the people in the region. No matter how complex the situation may be, the path to peace has always been right before us. We call on the international community to demonstrate rationality and resolve, pool greater efforts, support regional countries in developing good-neighborly and friendly relations, uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, build a new security architecture for the Middle East, and secure a peaceful future for the region. I would like to make three points.

First, tensions must be eased as soon as possible to prevent the spread and escalation of conflict. The U.S.-Iran war should never have happened in the first place, and its continued prolongation is not in the common interest of the parties involved or the international community. The sovereignty and security of the Gulf countries in the Middle East must be respected. The threat or use of force or the resumption of hostilities is especially undesirable. We encourage the parties concerned to remain rational and exercise restraint, and to choose peace. The U.S. and Iran should resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible and ultimately reach a comprehensive agreement acceptable to both sides. We urge all parties to work in the same direction, safeguard the security and unimpeded flow of international shipping lanes, and maintain the stability of international production and supply chains.

The situation in Yemen has recently seen a full-scale escalation, with fierce clashes erupting on multiple fronts across the country. Saudi airports, oil pipelines and office buildings have been attacked, with adverse impacts rapidly spreading. China condemns these attacks, which have caused significant casualties, and expresses grave concern over the intensifying conflict. China has consistently opposed attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and called for avoiding actions that would escalate regional tensions. The use of force is not the ultimate solution. We urge all parties to resolve their differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiations and achieve regional peace and stability at an early date.

Second, the root causes of regional conflicts must be addressed and the historical injustice against the Palestinian people must be rectified. The Palestinian issue has always been at the core of the Middle East issue and must never be ignored or marginalized. The Gaza ceasefire agreement was reached a year ago, but a lasting ceasefire, large-scale humanitarian assistance, and post-conflict recovery and reconstruction have yet to be realized, and peace remains a distant prospect. This man-made humanitarian disaster should have ended long ago. China urges all parties concerned, particularly Israel, to sincerely and fully implement the ceasefire agreement and cease all military operations in Gaza. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the delivery of large-scale humanitarian supplies and essential equipment to Gaza.

Settlement expansion in the West Bank is becoming increasingly rampant, with shocking forced demolitions and violent evictions. The displacement of Palestinians has reached its worst level since 1967. The two-state solution is the only way out for the Palestinian issue, and this concerns the fundamental principles of international justice. Israel must immediately halt and reverse its settlement policies, effectively curb violent activities in the West Bank, and lift unreasonable economic restrictions on the West Bank. The international community must redouble its efforts to implement the two-state solution, uphold the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine,” advance governance in the West Bank and post-war reconstruction in Gaza, and realize the early establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Third, the momentum for a political settlement must be bolstered to defuse the potential risks of conflict and instability. Syria currently faces severe challenges, including heightened security risks and fragile foundations for livelihoods. China supports Syria in advancing an inclusive political transition process under the “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” principle. The Golan Heights are internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory. China supports Syria in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and calls on Israel to end its illegal military presence in Syria.

The Lebanese-Israeli situation affects overall regional stability. Recently, Lebanon has been repeatedly attacked. The parties concerned should cease all hostilities, and Israel should comply with the requirements of Security Council resolution 1701 and withdraw its forces completely from Lebanon. The international community should encourage Lebanon to strengthen internal unity, resolve differences through political dialogue, and support the Lebanese Government in its efforts to strengthen state control. The Security Council should, in light of evolving circumstances, earnestly consider renewing UNIFIL’s mandate so as to maintain a meaningful United Nations presence in southern Lebanon and prevent a security vacuum.

President,

China has always been a steadfast builder of peace, promoter of stability and supporter of development in the Middle East. We will actively implement the series of important initiatives and proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping for peace and stability in the Middle East, and continue to make China's contribution to lasting peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Thank you, President.