Chinese representative: willing to work with all parties to better promote the political settlement of the Afghan issue

Xinhua News Agency, United Nations, March 16 (Reporter Ji Li) - Fu Cong, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, made an explanatory statement on the 16th after the Security Council voted on the resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), expressing China's willingness to work with all parties to better promote the political settlement of the Afghan issue and help Afghanistan achieve stability and development.

Fu Cong said that the Security Council had just unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for three months. As a penholder, China expresses its gratitude to the members of the Security Council for their support and cooperation. Currently, Afghanistan is facing multiple challenges and urgently needs the Afghan government to maintain communication with the international community, work towards the same direction, gradually address each other's reasonable concerns, and help Afghanistan achieve long-term stability, development, and prosperity. UNAMA plays an indispensable role in this regard, and China supports UNAMA in better fulfilling its duties and responsibilities.

Fu Cong stated that the resolution reaffirmed the firm support for the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), emphasized the crucial importance of UNAMA and other UN agencies continuing to perform their duties in Afghanistan, and demanded ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of movement of the UN and its personnel throughout Afghanistan. China called on the Afghan government to lift the ban on Afghan female UN staff entering office areas as soon as possible and provide necessary facilitation for UN agencies to perform their duties in Afghanistan. Although the Security Council did not extend the authorization of UNAMA for one year as usual this time, this in no way indicates any wavering in its support for UNAMA and the Afghan people.

Fu Cong pointed out that the resolution reiterates its grave concern over the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need to strengthen humanitarian assistance and support Afghanistan's development needs. China calls on traditional donors, especially those countries with historical responsibilities towards Afghanistan, to resume and increase their assistance to Afghanistan as soon as possible, and relevant countries should unfreeze and return the assets of the Central Bank of Afghanistan. The resolution expresses grave concern over the continuous erosion of the basic rights and interests of Afghan women and girls, and calls for the withdrawal of relevant restrictive policies to ensure that women enjoy equal rights in education, healthcare, employment, public life, and other fields.

Fu Cong emphasized that the resolution pointed out that terrorist organizations in Afghanistan still pose a threat to international peace and security, and that the territory of Afghanistan cannot be used to shelter and support any form of terrorist activities. China urges the Afghan government to take more resolute and effective measures to combat all terrorist forces. The resolution also expresses deep concern over the continued civilian casualties caused by explosive remnants of war in Afghanistan, and calls on the international community to provide more support for demining projects in Afghanistan. (End)