On December 31st, Geng Shuang, the Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, expressed at the emergency public meeting of the Security Council on the Middle East situation that he hopes the Security Council can find a comprehensive, efficient and effective solution to the Middle East issue in the new year. Geng Shuang stated that in 2024, conflicts and confrontations in the Middle East continue to escalate, and tensions continue to spread. In the face of the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and the escalating tensions caused by mutual stimulation, it is necessary for the Security Council to summarize its experience and lessons in the new year, strengthen unity and cooperation, strive to seek consensus, take effective actions, and find a comprehensive, effective solution to the Middle East issue. Geng Shuang said that China calls on all parties involved in conflicts in the Middle East to avoid taking actions that exacerbate tensions, and the top priority is to cease fire and violence. The conflict in the Gaza Strip has been prolonged for too long, and achieving an immediate and lasting ceasefire is a prerequisite for all work to be carried out. The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is very fragile, and the agreements already reached must be effectively implemented. China calls on the Houthi armed forces in Yemen to stop harassing merchant ships and other attacks, and calls on Israel and other relevant countries to stop airstrikes on Yemen. Geng Shuang said that China calls on countries in the Middle East to resolve differences and conflicts through dialogue and consultation, and achieve peaceful coexistence. Countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, legitimate rights to survival and development, and reasonable security concerns. China supports Middle Eastern countries in upholding a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, and jointly promoting the construction of a sustainable new architecture for Middle Eastern security. Geng Shuang said that the Middle East is not a battleground for great power games, nor can it become a victim of geopolitical competition among countries outside the region. All parties concerned should fully respect the historical and cultural traditions of Middle Eastern countries, support Syria and other Middle Eastern countries to achieve peace and reconciliation, and embark on a development path that is in line with their own national conditions. On regional hot issues, we should respect right and wrong, uphold fairness and justice, support and assist regional countries in finding ways to resolve conflicts, rather than taking sides and creating confrontations. Geng Shuang said that China calls on the international community to increase efforts to promote the early realization of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. The fact has repeatedly proven that the Palestinian issue is the core of the Middle East issue, and only by thoroughly resolving the Palestinian issue can the Middle East truly achieve peace and stability. The international community should revitalize the political prospects of the “two-state solution” with a sense of urgency that cannot wait for time.
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