Colleagues,

To begin with, I thank Special Representative Bintou Keita and Special Envoy Xia Huang for their briefings. I welcome Ms. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Foreign Minister of the DRC, at today’s meeting. 

Recently, after capturing Goma, M23 launched another offensive and entered Bukavu, the second largest city in eastern DRC. The drastic developments in the situation in eastern DRC have stirred the nerves of the international community. Secretary-General Guterres recently warned that the continued offensive by M23 threatens to push the entire region over the precipice. The statements by colleagues just now have all further highlighted the gravity and danger of the situation in eastern DRC.  

M23’s offensive has seriously violated the decision of the joint EAC-SADC summit requesting all parties to have an immediate ceasefire, completely breached the commitment of a unilateral ceasefire, and caused the situation to escalate further. China strongly condemns the military operations by M23 and reiterates that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC should be respected and that the UN Charter and international law should be observed. I wish to stress the following points. 

First, the international community should urge M23 to immediately and unconditionally cease its offensive and immediately withdraw from the occupied areas. China reiterates its hope that Rwanda will heed the call of the international community, stop its military support for M23, and immediately withdraw all its military forces from the DRC territory. 

Second, the international community must spare no effort in preventing the conflict in eastern DRC from spiraling into a larger scale regional conflict. The Congo war over 20 years ago caused millions of casualties. A similar tragedy must not recur. China calls upon relevant regional countries to stay calm and exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could escalate tensions and aggravate antagonism among the parties. 

Third, the international community should urge all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, protect the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian personnel, urgently open up more humanitarian corridors, reopen the airports in Goma and Bukavu, and fully restore essential services such as water and electricity. MONUSCO carries out its task of protecting civilians in accordance with the Security Council mandate, and all parties must refrain from interference and obstruction. The safety and security of foreign missions, foreign nationals and enterprises should also be fully guaranteed. 

Fourth, the international community should continue to support the mediation efforts by the AU and sub-regional organizations. China welcomes the dedication of the AU PSC summit to promoting the political settlement of the issue of eastern DRC, and expects the outcome of the joint EAC-SADC summit to be implemented without delay. All parties should call upon the DRC and Rwanda to promptly return to the track of diplomacy and address each other’s security concerns under the framework of the merged Luanda and Nairobi processes, including neutralizing the threat of the FDLR.  

Fifth, the major stakeholders should fully leverage their influence by actively exerting it on the countries concerned to promote deescalation of the situation, China supports the Security Council in actively fulfilling its responsibilities in maintaining international peace, taking responsible actions, and forming synergies with regional mediation efforts. China will continue to call on all parties to achieve a ceasefire, end the fighting, and resume dialogue, and will work tirelessly for the deescalation of the situation.

Thank you.