President,

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and OCHA Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings, and I welcome the Permanent Representative of Syria to today’s meeting. The newly appointed Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Mr. Claudio Cordone, has assumed his duties. I wish to extend my congratulations to him and reiterate China’s firm support for the work of the Office of the Special Envoy.

Recently, significant developments have taken place in Syria's Aleppo Governorate and the northeastern region, drawing widespread attention from the international community. China notes that a ceasefire agreement has been reached. We hope that the agreement will be fully respected, tensions will be eased as soon as possible, and Syria will achieve peace and stability at an early date. We hope that all Syrian parties will uphold the principle of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process, advance political reconciliation through dialogue and negotiations, and find a path for national reconstruction that serves the interests of the Syrian people.

Developments in northeastern Syria have given rise to security risks, which are a matter of concern. According to reports, a group of ISIL militants escaped from detention facilities in Hasakah Governorate amid the turmoil. China is also concerned about the management and security of facilities where ISIL fighters are being held. China firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stresses that any terrorist activity constitutes one of the gravest threats to international peace and security and must never be tolerated. We call on the Syrian transitional authorities to fulfill their international obligations and take all effective measures to resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations designated by the Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

As winter sets in, more than 5.1 million Syrians are suffering from cold and hunger and are waiting for assistance. China commends UN humanitarian agencies for continuing their humanitarian operations in Syria despite challenges such as funding shortages and an insecure environment. We call on the international community to scale up humanitarian assistance to Syria and help the Syrian people get through the winter in warmth. In the long run, all parties should help Syria restore its domestic markets, integrate into international and regional cooperation, and fundamentally address the root causes of instability.

The international community’s expectations for Syria are broadly aligned. We all hope that Syria will steadily advance an inclusive political transition, resolutely combat terrorism, effectively protect the rights of minority groups, revive its economy at an early date, and embark on a path of sustainable development. China reaffirms its support for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and opposes external interference. We stand ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability and development.

Thank you, President.