Mr. President,

I thank Secretary-General  Guterres for his briefing. I welcome the presence of the Permanent  Representative of Ethiopia Ambassador Taye at today's meeting.

At present, the humanitarian  needs in the Tigray region continue to grow. Food insecurity and displacement  remain acute problems. UN humanitarian workers have overcome various challenges  and delivered much-needed humanitarian supplies to many Ethiopians. China  appreciates these efforts. The United Nations and other international  humanitarian agencies should follow the UN guiding principles of humanitarian  assistance, help Ethiopia increase its humanitarian response capabilities, and  expand the scale of relief efforts to prevent the deterioration of the  situation. We call on the international community to provide sustained resources  to the Ethiopian Government in order to fill the humanitarian gap as soon as  possible, and ensure that aid reaches all people in need.

The armed conflict poses enormous  challenges to humanitarian operations. We have noticed that the Ethiopian  Government earnestly assumes the primary responsibility for humanitarian  assistance, and has proactively launched its own relief operations. At the same  time, the Government is also actively responding to the concerns of  international humanitarian agencies. Tremendous efforts have been made in this  regard. At the request of humanitarian agencies, the Ethiopian Government has  simplified administrative procedures on multiple occasions, reduced the number  of checkpoints, scaled up land and air transportation, and allow humanitarian  agencies to bring communication equipment into conflict areas. These measures  have contributed to expanding humanitarian access, and ensuring the delivery of  relief supplies, and therefore should be positively acknowledged.

Mr. President,

China regrets the disagreements  surrounding the seven UN humanitarian personnel, and noted the positions and  concerns expressed by the Ethiopian Government and the UN respectively. We  believe that a solution can only be found through dialogue and consultation. The  priority now is to engage in quiet diplomacy in order to prevent a deadlock. We  encourage both sides to maintain contact, fully exchange information, work  together to seek a solution, and avoid undermining existing trust and  cooperation between the two sides. The international community should create a  favorable atmosphere for a settlement through dialogue.

Mr. President,

A new government has just been  inaugurated in Ethiopia. China expresses its welcome. China supports the  Ethiopian Government in making continued efforts to achieve unity among all  Ethiopians, promote political dialogue, and work collectively to safeguard  national unity and build a brighter future for the country. The international  community should continue to provide assistance to Ethiopia, while respecting  the country's sovereignty and ownership. China supports African solutions to  African problems, and welcomes the good offices of former President Obasanjo in  his capacity as the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa. The United  Nations and the African Union should strengthen collaboration, and jointly play  a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation across the entire  Ethiopia. I also wish to point out that the unilateral sanctions imposed on  Ethiopia and Eritrea by certain countries are in breach of international law and  the basic norms governing international relations, and will serve only to  disrupt political settlement. Such sanctions should therefore be lifted as soon  as possible.

Thank you, Mr. President.