President,

I thank Deputy Special Envoy Claudio Cordone for his briefing. China will firmly support you and the Office of the Special Envoy in your work. I also thank Director Lisa Doughten and the civil society briefer for their briefings.

The situation in Syria remains fragile. Ethnic tensions are difficult to resolve, the counterterrorism landscape is grave, and humanitarian challenges are acute. The international community should provide more constructive support to Syria to help it achieve national stability and economic development at an early date. I wish to make three points:

First, advancing an inclusive political process is the key to resolving the Syrian issue. We have taken note of the significant recent developments in northeastern Syria, as well as the ceasefire and integration agreement reached, and hope that the relevant arrangements will be observed and stability restored as soon as possible. We welcome the efforts made by the Syrian transitional government to protect the rights of minority groups. We hope that all Syrian parties will uphold the principle of “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned,” engage in inclusive dialogue, advance the political reconciliation process, and identify a national reconstruction path that reflects the will of the people.

Second, addressing terrorism is a prerequisite for maintaining security and stability. Terrorist forces remain active in Syria, posing a serious threat to Syria and the wider region. Developments in northeastern Syria have triggered security risks related to ISIS terrorists, which have caused widespread concern in the international community. Detention facilities holding ISIS fighters and camps such as Al-Hol must receive close attention and be properly managed. China firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and calls on the Syrian transitional government to fulfill its counterterrorism obligations, take all effective measures, and resolutely combat all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including the “Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement.”

Third, alleviating the humanitarian crisis is an urgent task to improve people's livelihoods. The humanitarian situation in Syria remains severe, with 16.5 million people in urgent need of assistance. Hundreds of thousands of people in the northeast have been displaced and are struggling amid freezing temperatures and heavy rains. The international community, particularly traditional donors, should increase humanitarian assistance to Syria and ensure that United Nations and other humanitarian agencies receive adequate funding. All parties should help Syria restore and develop its economy so as to address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis and instability.

President,

The situation in Syria is closely linked to developments in the Middle East. Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity must be fully respected. The Golan Heights is internationally recognized as occupied Syrian territory. The 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement should be observed, and Israel should withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible.

China stands ready to continue working with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development at an early date.

I thank you, President.