I. UN Reform

China supports the UN in keeping abreast of the times through reform, and further strengthening its capacity for coordinating international efforts to tackle global challenges so as to better respond to the expectations of the international community, and increasing the voice of developing countries in international affairs. The reform should be an all-round process for balanced progress on security, development and human rights. In particular, positive results should be achieved in development, as it concerns the vital interests of developing countries.

China supports reform of the Security Council for it to better fulfill its responsibilities prescribed in the Charter of the United Nations. The priority of the reform should be on increasing the representation and voice of developing countries in the Security Council so that small and medium-sized countries will have more opportunities to sit on the Security Council and participate in its decision-making process. Reform of the Security Council concerns the future of the UN and vital interests of all member states. It is important to continue with thorough and democratic consultations, and seek a package solution that accommodates the concerns and interests of all parties. China is ready to work with all parties to ensure that the reform will help safeguard the long-term interests of the UN and solidarity of its member states.

II. Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism

The international combat against terrorism is facing increasingly grim and complex challenges. A serious problem is the entrenchment and spread of ideologies of violent extremism and the sharp increase in endogenous terrorist threats, which have caused severe impact on peace and stability of the international community. China stands for a holistic approach in combating terrorism which addresses both the symptoms and root causes. The UN and its Security Council should play a leading role in international counter-terrorism cooperation and push for the establishment of the broadest counter-terrorism front, enhance coordination and build consensus, and forge greater synergy for international counter-terrorism efforts. The international community should further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The pressing task is to resolutely fight attempts of terrorists to disseminate violent and extremist ideologies, incite hatred between ethnic groups and religious factions, spread techniques of making explosives, plot and launch violent terrorist attacks, recruit and raise fund through the Internet and other modern communications technologies. It is important to foster a sound momentum for all parties to shoulder their due responsibilities and contribute to the fight against cyber terrorism and cooperate in good faith.

III. UN Peacekeeping Operations

UN peacekeeping operations are an important instrument for maintaining world peace and security. China supports UN peacekeeping operations in fully fulfilling their mandates on the basis of the Hammarskjöld principles of “consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate”. In the meantime, we support UN peacekeeping operations in keeping pace with the times through reasonable and necessary reform and innovation. China welcomes the Secretary-General’s review of peacekeeping operations last year, and supports progressive implementation of relevant proposals in his report on the basis of broad consensus among member states.

China has been a firm supporter of and an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations. To date, China has contributed over 30,000 peacekeepers, and over 2,600 Chinese peacekeepers are providing services in 10 operations at present. China is the biggest troop contributor and the second largest fund contributor to UN peacekeeping missions among the five permanent members of the Security Council. At the summits commemorating the 70th anniversary of the UN last September, President Xi Jinping announced a series of important measures to be taken by China in support of the UN peacekeeping operations. These measures are under implementation with steady progress. China will follow through on its pledges and measures, and continue with its active and deep involvement in UN peacekeeping operations in order to safeguard world peace and security.

IV. Information and Cyber Security

Cyberspace is the common space of activities for mankind. The future of cyberspace should be in the hands of all countries. Countries should step up communication, broaden consensus and deepen cooperation to jointly build a community of shared future in cyberspace.

China maintains that it is necessary to ensure that information and communications technologies are used for the purpose of advancing economic and social development and promoting international peace and stability, establish a sense of common security and oppose cyber surveillance, cyber attack and cyber arms race. It is important to respect the right of countries to independently choose their own path of cyber development, model of cyber regulation and Internet public policies, and participate in international cyberspace governance on an equal footing. No country should pursue cyber hegemony or use the Internet to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. Countries should uphold the idea of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and narrow the “digital divide” by scaling up assistance to developing countries. The international community should enhance dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and trust, formulate international cyberspace rules acceptable to all parties under the UN framework, work together to foster a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace, and establish a multilateral, democratic and transparent global Internet governance system.

V. Refugee and Migrant Issue

The number of refugees and displaced people around the world has hit a record high, and the size of refugees has been constantly expanding. It is urgent to strengthen efforts to address the issue of refugees and migrants.

China holds that both the symptoms and root causes should be addressed in tackling the refugee issue. It is necessary to provide more humanitarian care to refugees and ensure their life and security. And more importantly, it is necessary to focus more on eradicating the root causes of the issue, including wars, armed conflicts, poverty and unbalanced development.

China maintains that countries should follow the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and enhance cooperation in facilitating people-to-people exchanges, safeguarding legitimate rights and interests of migrants, reducing the number of illegal migrants and combating human trafficking to promote sound and orderly movement of people.

VI. Regional Hotspot Issues

1. Situation on the Korean Peninsula

China is committed to a denuclearized, peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula and settlement of relevant issues through dialogue and consultation. Dialogue and consultation is the only effective way to resolve relevant issues, and the Six-Party Talks is a practical and effective platform for addressing the concerns of all parties in a balanced manner and achieving denuclearization on the Peninsula. China hopes that the parties concerned will refrain from moves that might escalate tensions, create the atmosphere and conditions for gradually building mutual trust and resuming the dialogue, and work for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks. China holds that Resolution 2270 and other relevant resolutions of the Security Council should be fully implemented in their entirety.

The ultimate solution of relevant issues on the Peninsula calls for a multi-pronged and well-targeted approach. Taking into account the concerns of all parties and the current situation on the Peninsula, China has put forward a proposal for the negotiations to pursue, in parallel tracks, denuclearization and replacement of the armistice with a peace treaty. China hopes that the parties concerned will give positive consideration to the proposal and welcomes constructive views and suggestions from all sides.

2. Afghanistan

China hopes to see peace and stability in Afghanistan at an early date. China supports Afghanistan’s peaceful rconstruction and development and supports the Afghan government in playing a leading role in the political, security and economic transition, supports the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process, and believes that political reconciliation is the only solution to the Afghan issue. The international community should respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and earnestly honor the commitment of assistance to Afghanistan's economic and social development.

3. The Middle East Peace Process

The Palestinian issue is at the crux of the Middle East issue. China supports the Palestinian people’s efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state that enjoys full sovereignty, with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 borders. We support Palestine’s greater participation in international affairs as a state. The parties concerned should properly solve their disputes through political and diplomatic means on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the principle of “land for peace”, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East. China supports the UN and its Security Council in playing a bigger role on the Middle East issue.

At present, China is closely watching and worried about the on-going conflict between Israel and Palestine and the stalled peace talks. In his speech at the League of Arab States Headquarters in January 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping fully elaborated on China’s principled position on the Palestinian issue and called for resumption of peace talks and economic reconstruction. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed “three stops” and “three explorations”. The root cause of the conflict between Israel and Palestine is the prolonged absence of a just and reasonable settlement of the Palestinian issue. Relevant parties in Israel and Palestine should firmly commit themselves to peace talks as the strategic choice and demonstrate goodwill to each other.

Talks on the Syria-Israel and Lebanon-Israel tracks are important components of the Middle East peace process. They merit our attention and should be pushed forward as well.

4. Iraq

China supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and the efforts made by the Iraqi government to safeguard national stability and combat terrorism. China supports and encourages various factions in Iraq to pursue continued and inclusive political dialogue and advance the political reconciliation and economic reconstruction process in the country, and China will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq.

5. Yemen

China supports parties in Yemen in seeking a political settlement of the Yemeni issue on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism. We hope that various forces in Yemen will act in the interests of the nation and the people, reach a solution acceptable to all parties through negotiation as soon as possible and initiate the political transition and economic reconstruction process so as to achieve national stability and development at an early date.

6. Syria

The Syrian crisis should be resolved by political means based on the principle that the future of Syria is to be determined by its people and with the UN as the main channel of mediation. China urges all parties concerned to proceed from the future and destiny of the nation and the fundamental well-being of the people, stop hostilities, meet each other half way, and find a political settlement that suits the circumstances of Syria and accommodates the concerns of various parties through dialogue and negotiation. China calls on the international community to play a positive and constructive role in a collective endeavor to solve the Syrian issue politically.

China supports taking credible steps to ease the humanitarian situation in Syria and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, including Syrian refugees in other countries. Humanitarian assistance should be carried out in accordance with relevant UN guiding principles, and humanitarian issues should not be politicized. The international community must work together to combat terrorism and eliminate the breeding ground of terrorist and extremist forces within the framework of international law and on the basis of respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the country concerned.

7. Libya

The most fundamental way to resolve the Libyan issue is to continue to encourage all factions in Libya to solve their differences through dialogue and pursue economic reconstruction at a faster pace. The international community needs to respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya and coordinate its efforts in advancing political settlement, combating terrorism and promoting economic reconstruction. At the same time, it is important to fully consider the security and development needs of Libya and other countries in the region and seek a long-term solution to the Libyan issue.

8. The Iranian Nuclear Issue

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue is conducive to maintaining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East. At present, the JCPOA has entered the phase of implementation and smooth progress has been made. Moving forward, much remains to be done in its follow-ups. All relevant parties need to maintain political commitment, properly manage differences, remove external distraction, fulfill their obligations in a balanced way and follow through on the implementation.

9. The Darfur Issue of Sudan

China welcomes the efforts made by the Sudanese government in ensuring peace and stability in Darfur, advancing the political process and promoting development in the Darfur region. The international community needs to stay committed to and fully leverage the role of the tripartite mechanism involving the UN, the AU and the government of Sudan as the main channel for the settlement of the Darfur issue, urge other factions in Darfur to join the political dialogue as soon as possible and seek a comprehensive political settlement to the issue. The international community also needs to assist the Sudanese government in promoting development and improving people’s well-being in Darfur in order to resolve the root causes that triggered the conflict.

10. South Sudan

China sincerely hopes that relevant parties to the conflict in South Sudan will act in the fundamental interests of the country and the people and the larger interests of regional peace and stability, earnestly implement the ceasefire agreement, restore stability in the region as early as possible and strive to realize national reconciliation in order to create favorable conditions for political transition and national reconstruction. The international community needs to continue to support the mediation efforts of regional countries and relevant organizations, pool strength to promote peace talks, support the UN Mission in South Sudan in fulfilling its mandate, provide humanitarian assistance and work to ease tensions in South Sudan.

11. Burundi

China supports relevant parties in Burundi in properly addressing differences through dialogue, supports African people in resolving African issues in the African way, and supports the East African Community in playing a leading role in mediation. China holds the view that the consent of the host country is the primary precondition and basic principle for deploying peacekeeping operations and also an important safeguard for their success. China is ready to work with the international community to maintain the good momentum of peace and development in Africa and the Great Lakes region.

12. Somalia

Thanks to the concerted efforts of various parties, the Somali peace process has made major breakthroughs, with presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled in September and October this year. On the other hand, Somalia still faces many grave challenges as it strives for lasting peace and national reconstruction. China has consistently supported the peace process and helped Somalia with national reconstruction. The Chinese Embassy was officially reopened in October 2014. China is ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role to help Somalia realize lasting peace and national reconstruction.

13. Mali

China is watching the situation in Mali closely. It firmly supports Mali’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and hopes that relevant parties will continue to advance peace talks and jointly implement the peace and reconciliation agreement. China has consistently supported Mali’s cause for peace and development. It has provided assistance to Mali, the AU and relevant regional countries within its capability and sent peacekeeping forces to join the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali. China calls on the international community to increase its attention to and input in Mali, and stands ready to continue to work with the international community and play its own role in promoting peace in Mali and regional stability.

14. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

China supports relevant parties of the DRC in resolving differences through dialogue out of the fundamental interests of the country and the people, and jointly maintaining the hard-won peace and stability. China stands ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in achieving all-round peace and development in the Great Lakes region.

15. The Central African Republic

China welcomes the successful elections in the Central African Republic and the smooth conclusion of the transition period. China has all along supported the peace process of the Central African Republic, and is ready to work with the international community to help the Central African Republic achieve peace, security and development at an early date, and open up a new era of peaceful reconstruction.

16. Ukraine

China has always held an objective and impartial position on the Ukrainian issue. China believes that it is important to achieve a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis on the basis of earnestly implementing the Minsk agreement reached on 12 February 2015. The parties concerned need to engage in dialogue, properly handle differences and seek a political plan that provides a comprehensive solution to the crisis with balanced consideration of the interests of all parties. China supports relevant international coordinating mechanisms in making greater efforts to facilitate peace talks, and stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

17. Cyprus

China actively supports the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots in carrying out negotiations over the Cyprus issue and welcomes relevant positive progress. We have always supported a fair and equitable solution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of relevant UN resolutions. We appreciate the efforts of the UN and the international community toward the settlement of the Cyprus issue. China maintains that any plan should serve the interests of both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. It is hoped that both parties will seize the opportunity, gradually reduce differences through negotiations, and find a mutually acceptable plan for peaceful settlement.

VII. Development Issues

1. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has charted the course for the development of all countries and international development cooperation in the next 15 years. All countries should implement the sustainable development agenda in line with their national conditions, align the 2030 Agenda with domestic development strategies, advance work in three major areas of economy, society and environment in a balanced way, prioritize people’s livelihood issue, and promote inclusive economic growth and social progress. The international community should make efforts to improve development partnership, take the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” as the guide, keep to the main channel of North-South cooperation, continuously deepen South-South cooperation and tripartite cooperation, and firmly support the UN in playing its coordinating role in the implementation process.

China has launched all-round implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will promulgate its Country Program on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to share its development vision and experience with other countries. As the current president of the G20, China is pushing for the formulation of the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to inject strong impetus to the global implementation process.

2. Climate Change

China welcomes the adoption of the Paris Agreement at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the end of 2015. Keeping to the principles of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, equity and respective capabilities, China will maintain close communication and cooperation with all parties to ensure the entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, advance the follow-up negotiations of the Paris Agreement, and galvanize global action on climate change.

China calls on developed countries to make use of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other platforms, establish clear roadmaps for implementation, honor their commitment of mobilizing US$100 billion per year by 2020, and provide more robust financial support for developing countries after 2020. China will continue to advance South-South cooperation on climate change, and provide adaptation, capacity building and other assistance and support within its ability to other developing countries.

3. Food Security

Food security bears on mankind’s survival. To eradicate hunger and achieve food security require arduous efforts of all countries. Countries should make agricultural and rural development one of the core missions of national development, increase investment in agriculture, raise agricultural productivity and enhance agricultural modernization. The international community should establish a fair, equitable, sustained and stable agricultural trade order, reduce trade protectionist measures, curb excessive speculation, and jointly implement the goals on food and agriculture in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China attaches great importance to sustainable agricultural and rural development. China has always managed to ensure basic food supply by relying on domestic production. China stands ready to work with all countries to build a world of Zero Hunger.

4. Financing for Development

Financing for development provides strong support for advancing global development cooperation and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The international community should face squarely the long-term deficiency of global development capital, take concrete actions to build an open world economy, and promote liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment to help developing countries better integrate into global industrial chain and value chain, achieve economic growth and improve people’s livelihood. All countries should earnestly implement the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Developed countries should deliver on their ODA commitments, and provide assistance to developing countries in terms of capital, technology, capacity building and other areas. China will continue to actively take part in South-South cooperation, ensure the implementation of such practical measures as the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation, China-UN Peace and Development Fund, and debt write-off for relevant developing countries, and promote the common development of all countries.

VIII. Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

1. Nuclear Issues

China has consistently and actively advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. China is firmly committed to a nuclear strategy based on self-defense and has upheld its commitment that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances and that it would unconditionally refrain from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

China advocates universal security as the ultimate goal, upholds the authority and effectiveness of the existing multilateral mechanisms including the Geneva Conference on Disarmament (CD), and follows the principle of balanced progress and consensus so as to ensure equal and broad participation of the international community.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is part and parcel of the post-war international security system, and the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. It has made significant contribution to world peace, security and stability. China hopes that the parties concerned will make joint efforts to uphold and strengthen the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT, and take a balanced approach to promoting nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy, so as to further deepen global nuclear governance. China calls on countries that are not yet signatories to the treaty to swiftly and unconditionally join the treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon state and pledge to eliminate all their nuclear weapons.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). As one of the first countries to sign the CTBT, China has always firmly safeguarded the purposes and goals of the CTBT, honored its commitment of suspending nuclear tests and supported relevant resolutions of successive sessions of the UN General Assembly. China has been deeply involved in the work of the Preparatory Commission of the Treaty Organization, and earnestly carried out preparatory work for the implementation of the treaty in China. China is ready to work with the international community to bring about an early entry into force of the CTBT.

China firmly supports the CD as the only appropriate venue for negotiating the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT). China supports the CD in reaching agreement on a comprehensive and balanced program of work as a basis to start considering substantive issues, including the negotiation of a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable FMCT in accordance with the Shannon Report (CD/1299) and the mandate specified in it.

China always respects and supports the efforts by countries in relevant regions to establish nuclear-weapon-free or WMD-free zones in light of the actual conditions of their regions and on the basis of consultations among themselves and voluntary agreements.

China attaches high importance to the nuclear security issue. It has participated actively in all four Nuclear Security Summits and supported the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the international nuclear security system. At the third Nuclear Security Summit held in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a sensible, coordinated and balanced approach to nuclear security and advocated the building of an international nuclear security system featuring fairness and win-win cooperation for the first time. At the fourth Nuclear Security Summit held this year, President Xi put forth a number of propositions and initiatives on strengthening the international nuclear security system and promoting international cooperation on nuclear security. Guided by these proposals and initiatives, China will work with the international community to make contributions to the enhancement of global nuclear security.

Safety should come first in the use of nuclear energy. China supports the international community in taking concrete measures to reinforce nuclear safety and actively advancing relevant international cooperation to promote sound and sustainable development of nuclear energy.

2. Chemical and Biological Weapons

China supports continued efforts to strengthen the effectiveness, authority and universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). China finds it regrettable that relevant states that possess chemical weapons and those that abandoned such weapons on the territories of other State Parties failed to complete the destruction process before the scheduled deadline of the CWC. China urges such countries to comply with the relevant decisions of the Conference of the State Parties and the Executive Council and redouble efforts to complete the destruction according to the timetables set in the relevant decisions and destruction plans. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should effectively supervise all destruction processes, including those of abandoned chemical weapons. China firmly supports the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons under the auspices of the CWC and has made important contribution to this end. China is ready to work with other State Parties to the BWC to jointly push for positive outcomes at the Eighth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention and continue to uphold the important role of the BWC in such areas as removing the threat and preventing the proliferation of biological weapons and promoting the peaceful use of bacteriological (biological) science and technology.

3. Non-Proliferation

China is firmly opposed to the proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery. To achieve the goal of non-proliferation, all countries should work for a global and regional security environment of mutual trust and cooperation to reduce the incentive for WMD proliferation; resolve proliferation issues through political and diplomatic means; earnestly uphold and strengthen the international non-proliferation regime; and handle the relationship between non-proliferation and peaceful use in a balanced way and abandon double standards. China will step up exchanges and cooperation with all parties to move forward the international non-proliferation process.

4. Security in Outer Space

China stands for the peaceful use of outer space and opposes the weaponization or any arms race in outer space. China believes that the international community should negotiate a new international treaty to fundamentally remove security threats to outer space. For this purpose, China and Russia submitted the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (Draft) to the CD in February 2008. China and Russia updated the Draft in June 2014 based on the opinions and suggestions from various parties, and submitted a working paper in September 2015 in response to questions raised by some countries. Based on the draft proposed by China and Russia, the CD should start negotiations on a treaty on arms control in outer space as early as possible. China stands for the principle of inclusiveness and complementarity in promoting the prevention of arms race and the Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures process in outer space.

IX. Human Rights

It is the common goal of mankind to enjoy human rights in the full sense of the term. As an important part of the economic and social development of a country, the human rights endeavor should be advanced in light of the country’s national conditions and the need of its people. There is no one-size-fits-all model for the development of human rights.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development by the UN. The international community should attach equal importance to the realization of the civil and political rights and the economic, social and cultural rights and scale up input in the field of the right to development, an area of shared concern of developing countries.

When it comes to human rights, there is always room for improvement. Countries should engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, enhance exchange and mutual learning, properly handle differences and reject the practice of politicizing human rights issues. The Human Rights Council and other UN human rights bodies should conduct their work in a fair, objective and non-selective manner to promote the sound development of the international human rights cause.

X. UN Financing

According to the principle of capacity to pay enshrined in the UN General Assembly resolution, all UN member states should earnestly fulfill their financial obligations stipulated in the UN Charter and pay assessments for both regular budget and peacekeeping operations on time, in full and without conditions to support the UN in effectively carrying out its functions. The management of and efficiency in the use of UN resources should be improved through integration of resources and programs with greater accountability and due consideration and accommodation of the legitimate concerns and demands of developing countries.

XI. The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels

It is the goal of all countries and the entire international community to achieve the rule of law at both the national and international levels. At the national level, countries are entitled to independently choose the mode of rule of law that suits their national conditions. Countries with different modes should learn from each other and seek common development in a spirit of mutual respect and tolerance. The Chinese government will comprehensively promote the rule of law in a bid to build China into a country based on the rule of law that features sound legislation, strict enforcement, impartial justice and abidance by all. To strengthen the rule of law at the international level, it is necessary to uphold the authority of the UN Charter, and strictly abide by universally recognized principles of international law such as sovereign equality and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Countries should fulfill their obligations in good faith, uphold the consistent application of international law, avoid double standards, oppose the abuse of dispute settlement mechanisms and means, and promote democracy and the rule of law in international relations.

XII. The International Criminal Court

China supports the efforts by the international community to punish serious international crimes and promote world peace and judicial justice. The International Criminal Court (ICC) should uphold the purpose of promoting international peace and security and safeguarding the well-being of all mankind in its work, coordinate and cooperate with other international mechanisms and avoid disrupting relevant peace processes. China hopes that the ICC will strictly stick to the principle of complementary jurisdiction, earnestly respect the judicial sovereignty of countries, and prudently carry out its mandate in accordance with law so as to win the confidence and respect of the broad international community with its objective and impartial conduct.