President,

I thank Directors Kayoko Gotoh and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings. 

At present, the Ukraine crisis continues unabated, with ground combat operations still ongoing. Russia and Ukraine keep launching attacks against each other, resulting in new civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. As another winter is around the corner, people in the conflict zone face the double whammy of warfare and bitter cold, creating a deeply concerning humanitarian situation. 

China, once again, calls on the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint, strictly comply with international humanitarian law, and effectively protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Dialogue and negotiations represent the only viable path to resolve the Ukraine crisis. We urge the parties to demonstrate political will and swiftly embark on the path of negotiated settlement. We call on the international community to scale up humanitarian assistance, actively promote peace talks, and continue creating favorable conditions for a political solution to the crisis. 

Last year, China and Brazil, together with other countries from the Global South, jointly promoted the establishment of the Group of Friends for Peace. Recently, the Group held another ambassadorial-level meeting and issued a media stakeout, welcoming the recent engagements and talks held between the relevant parties and calling on all parties to seize the current opportunity and maintain the momentum of engagements and talks. The Group advocates for deescalation and non-intensification of fighting. All parties should avoid actions that could further fuel the conflict, including the proliferation of weapons into the parties of the conflict. The Group reaffirms that the shared goal must be to find a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution, one that addresses mutual concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement negotiated directly by and acceptable to them. The Group stands ready to support the next steps agreed by the relevant parties to the conflict. The UN has a role in fostering the diplomatic efforts and in the implementation of any peace agreement. The Group calls on all parties to strictly comply with international humanitarian law and support humanitarian initiatives to facilitate the exchange of prisoners of war. The Group is concerned about the negative impact of unilateral sanctions, and stresses the importance of safeguarding countries’ legitimate right to conduct normal international trade and economic cooperation. 

President, 

China's position on the Ukraine issue has been very clear and consistent. We have always been following the fundamental guidance of the “four shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping, actively engaging with all relevant parties, working tirelessly for peace, and striving to promote negotiations. We stand ready to continue our communication with all parties, send more balanced, objective, and rational voices of the international community, and play a constructive role in achieving an early ceasefire and advancing a political solution to the crisis. 

I thank you, President.