President,

The Security Council has just unanimously adopted the resolution extending the mandate of UNAMA for three months. As the penholder of the Resolution, China thanks Council members for their support and cooperation.

At present, Afghanistan faces multiple challenges. It is imperative that the Afghan Government and the international community maintain communication, work in the same direction, gradually address each other's legitimate concerns, and help Afghanistan achieve lasting stability, development, and prosperity. UNAMA plays an indispensable role in this regard. China commends the efforts made by UNAMA and supports it in better fulfilling its mandate. In light of the Resolution, I would like to highlight the following points.

First, the Resolution reaffirms firm support for UNAMA's work, emphasizes the critical importance of UNAMA and other UN agencies continuing to carry out their mandates in Afghanistan, and calls for ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of movement of the United Nations and its personnel throughout Afghanistan. We call on the Afghan Government to lift the ban on Afghan female staff entering UN premises as soon as possible and to provide the necessary facilitation for UN agencies to carry out their mandates in Afghanistan. The Resolution also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Security Council members, to appoint a new Special Representative in a timely manner. China looks forward to the appointment receiving broad support from all parties, including the Afghan government, thereby injecting new momentum into international cooperation on Afghanistan.

Second, the Resolution reiterates deep concerns over the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need to strengthen humanitarian assistance and support Afghanistan's development needs. We call on traditional donors, particularly those countries that bear historical responsibility toward Afghanistan, to resume and increase their aid to Afghanistan as soon as possible. The Resolution specifically notes the need to help Afghanistan restore its banking and financial systems and ensure that the assets of Afghanistan's Central Bank are used for the benefit of the Afghan people. We call on relevant countries to unfreeze and return the assets of Afghanistan's Central Bank, and we hope that UNAMA will play a greater role in this regard.

Third, the Resolution expresses serious concerns over the increasing erosion of the fundamental rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, and calls for the reversal of relevant restrictive policies to ensure that women enjoy equal rights in education, health-care, employment, public life, and other areas. We hope that the Afghan government will act in the fundamental interests of its people, and enable Afghan women and girls to truly become beneficiaries, builders, and contributors to the country's development and revitalization, thereby creating favorable conditions for Afghanistan's further integration into the international community.

Fourth, the Resolution emphasis that terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan remain a threat to international peace and security, and that Afghan territory must not be used to shelter or support any form of terrorist activities. We urge the Afghan government to take more resolute and forceful measures in accordance with Council resolutions to combat all terrorist forces, including ISIL-K, Al-Qaida, the ETIM, the TTP, and the BLA. The Resolution also expresses serious concerns over the continued civilian casualties caused by explosive ordnance in Afghanistan, and calls on the international community to provide greater support for Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan.

President,

Although the Security Council this time did not, as is customary, extend UNAMA's mandate by one year, this by no means implies any wavering in its support for UNAMA and the Afghan people. Considering the desire of some Council member to make appropriate adjustments of UNAMA's mandate, the Council has decided to extend the mandate by 3 months to ensure sufficient time for serious discussions and the adoption of a responsible decision. China is willing to listen extensively to the views of all parties on this matter over the next 3 months, and to promote consensus and agreements among Council members. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that the goal of adjusting the mandate is to strengthen, not weaken the role of UNAMA, so as to better advance a political solution to the Afghanistan issue, and help Afghanistan achieve stability and development. China stands ready to work with all parties to make active efforts towards this end.

Thank you, President.