President,

China voted in favor of the draft resolution just adopted, and I would like to make the following explanation of China’s position.

First, since its establishment more than six years ago, the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) has been playing a positive role in overseeing the governorate-wide ceasefire in Hodeidah and assisting the parties in implementing the agreement. Under the current circumstances, ensuring the continuity of the Mission’s work is crucial for maintaining stability in the Hodeidah area.

Second, for some time now, the Hodeidah area has been experiencing frequent airstrikes, which seriously threaten the Mission’s safety and security. The sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Yemen should be respected, and the safety and security of the Mission must be guaranteed. Relevant parties should respect the Mission’s mandate, actively cooperate with the Mission, and lift restrictions on its freedom of movement. China supports the Mission in strengthening communication and coordination with all parties, improving its working methods, and enhancing the effectiveness of its mandate implementation. We look forward to the Secretary-General submitting a report to the Security Council in this regard and proposing practicable recommendations.

Third, the Yemeni issue must ultimately be resolved by political means. We call on all Yemeni parties to resume dialogue and negotiations at an early date, and with the assistance of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, to advance a comprehensive political process that is Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned. The Mission can also play a greater role in facilitating engagement between the Yemeni parties to enhance mutual trust and avoid misjudgments.

Thank you, President.