President,

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Rugwabiza for her briefing and welcome the Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic to today’s meeting. I commend Special Representative Rugwabiza for the tremendous amount of work she has done and the important contributions she has made over the past four and a half years, and I wish her all the best.

Since the beginning of this year, the political process in the Central African Republic (CAR) has continued to advance and positive progress  has been made in peacebuilding. However, the country still faces some challenges in maintaining security, strengthening governance and promoting development. The international community should support the Government and people of the CAR in seizing the opportunities for peace, accelerating the political process and opening up a new chapter for development. I will make three points.

First, ensure the smooth completion of the electoral process and lay a solid foundation for political stability. The CAR has made tremendous progress in advancing elections at all levels. Moving forward, it should draw on experience, build confidence, strengthen overall coordination, and do a good job in organizing the remaining legislative, regional and local elections and in providing security for them, so as to ensure that they are completed smoothly and in an orderly manner. The international community should provide constructive support in financial, technical, logistical and other areas. We encourage the CAR Government to continue promoting inclusive political participation, urge all parties to remain committed to dialogue and consultation and properly resolve differences, and consolidate a peaceful and stable political environment. We support the Government in accelerating the restoration and expansion of grassroots-level administrative governance and service capacity, enhancing public trust in State institutions and continuously strengthening the authority of State governance.

Second, continue to enhance self-reliant security capacity and consolidate the gains of peace and reconciliation. The CAR is currently facing rising security challenges in the northeast and southeast, where regional conflict spillover and cross-border armed activities pose a serious threat to border security. China supports the CAR Government in continuing to advance the implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, accelerating the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, and maintaining close communication and coordination with neighbouring countries to jointly safeguard stability in border areas. The international community should support the CAR in strengthening its national security capacity building, optimizing deployment and addressing shortfalls, particularly by enhancing capabilities in border control, rapid response and logistical support, so as to better withstand the impact of external destabilizing factors.

Third, actively promote economic and social development and eliminate the breeding ground for conflict. Insufficient development remains an important constraint on lasting peace in the CAR. The international community should increase its support for the CAR’s development and help it make better use of its resource endowments, accelerate industrial and agricultural development and infrastructure construction, improve public services such as employment, education and health care, enhance economic vitality and resilience, and ensure people’s livelihoods and well-being, so as to eliminate the risks of conflict at their source.

President,

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has played an important role in supporting the political process, maintaining security and stability and extending State authority in the CAR, which China recognizes. China supports renewing the mandate of MINUSCA for one year. The CAR has now entered a new phase of consolidating the gains of peace and enhancing its self-reliant capacity. We encourage the CAR Government, with the support of international partners, to strengthen capacity building and prepare for the gradual handover of responsibilities from MINUSCA. The adjustment and transition of MINUSCA should be gradual, operations-led and results-oriented, and the handover of responsibilities should be commensurate with, and mutually reinforcing of, the capacity to assume them. China firmly supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the CAR, and supports its Government and people in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions. We stand ready to continue deepening cooperation with the CAR within frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to help it achieve lasting peace, development and prosperity.

Thank you, President.