President,

I thank Deputy Special Envoy Claudio Cordone and Acting Assistant-Secretary-General a.i. Indrika Ratwatte for their briefings. I also listened carefully to the statement by civil society representative Ms. Rola Roukbi. I welcome the Permanent Representatives of Syria, Türkiye, and Qatar to today's meeting.

A month ago, during his visit to Syria, Secretary-General António Guterres said that Syria stands at a “moment of possibility”, with an opportunity for a future that is more stable, more inclusive and more prosperous for all Syrians. This statement reflects both the prevailing view of the international community on the situation in Syria and the shared expectations of all parties for Syria's future. The Syrian transitional government should seize the opportunity, formulate sound domestic and foreign policies, strengthen national governance capacity, respond to the concerns of the international community through concrete actions, and work for the early restoration of peace and stability and the achievement of sustainable development in Syria. I would like to make three points.

First, it's crucial to remain steadfast to an inclusive political transition. Recently, People's Assembly of Syria adopted its rules of procedure, and new progress has been made in the integration process in northeastern Syria. Meanwhile, sectarian clashes still occur from time to time in southwestern Syria, and the security situation remains tense and fragile. Advancing an inclusive political transition under the “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” principle is the consensus of the international community. The Syrian transitional government should focus on reconstruction as the fundamental objective, ensure the full participation of all sectors of Syrian society in the transition process, build the broadest possible consensus, promote internal reconciliation, and prevent divisions. It should fully respect Syria's multicultural reality, take into account the religious and cultural differences among various communities, and equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of all groups. We hope that the Syrian side will facilitate the relocation of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria to Damascus and the discharge of its duties there.

Second, it is imperative to relentlessly combat terrorist forces. Terrorism is a major threat to the restoration of stability in Syria. According to the Secretary-General's report, following the closure of detention camps in northeastern Syria, the whereabouts of large numbers of individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations and their family members are unknown. Some of them may rejoin terrorist organizations or other armed groups, further increasing regional security risks. The report of the Monitoring Team of the Security Council 1267 Committee indicates that several thousand foreign terrorist fighters remained in the Syria, some of whom are recruiting and fundraising in Syria to to enhance their capabilities. China urges the Syrian transitional government to remain resolute in fighting terrorism, take effective measures, and resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.

Third, it is essential to sustain humanitarian and development assistance. Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, the humanitarian situation in Syria has continued to improve, which deserves recognition. At the same time, humanitarian needs in Syria remain enormous, the security situation remains unstable, and prices are rising rapidly, posing additional challenges to Syria's economic recovery. China supports the Syrian transitional government in focusing on the development agenda, properly addressing the security concerns of foreign investors, advancing economic reconstruction, and continuously improving people's livelihoods. The Damascus International Fair is currently underway, and we look forward to the platform playing a positive role in promoting Syria's economic development. The international community should increase humanitarian and development assistance to Syria, help the country restore its domestic market and integrate into regional and international economic cooperation, and fundamentally eliminate the root causes of instability.

President,

After more than a decade of war and turmoil, all sectors of Syrian society oppose being drawn into new conflicts. Maintaining Syria's security and stability will contribute to improving the overall situation in the Middle East. China condemns Israel's attacks on Syria and calls on all parties to genuinely respect Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The Golan Heights are internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory, and the parties concerned have an obligation to implement the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Israel should withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible. China stands ready to continue working with the international community and play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security and development at an early date and restoring peace and stability in the Middle East as soon as possible.

Thank you, President.