President,

China abstained from voting on the draft resolution just put to a vote. I would like to explain China's position as follows.

Over the years, the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has earnestly carried out the mandate given by the Council, playing an important role in maintaining stability on the ground, preventing escalation, and protecting civilians, thereby creating favorable conditions for advancing a political solution to the Western Sahara issue. China supports extending MINURSO's mandate for one year. Regrettably, however, the draft resolution proposed by the penholder failed to build upon the framework of previous Council resolutions on the Western Sahara issue, failed to adequately balance and address the concerns of all parties, and put pressure on one side to accept a predetermined negotiation outcome. The penholder failed to give Council members sufficient time for thorough consultations and forced the vote despite significant differences among the parties over the draft. Such an approach is not conducive to the Council’s unity and cooperation and does not contribute to a political settlement of the Western Sahara issue.

The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The Council's actions should help enhance mutual trust among all parties, maintain the momentum of negotiations, and create favorable conditions for ultimately reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution. The extension of MINURSO's mandate should not be used as a tool to exert political pressure.

President,

China's position on the Western Sahara issue is consistent and clear. We have always maintained that a political settlement is the fundamental solution to the Western Sahara issue, that the United Nations is the primary channel, that relevant Council resolutions are an important foundation, and that dialogue and negotiations are the correct approach. China supports the parties concerned in reaching, through equal consultations, a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution that ensures the people of Western Sahara can exercise self-determination under arrangements consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Thank you.