Madam President, Mr. High Commissioner:
Over the past year, under the leadership of the High Commissioner Mr. Grandi, UNHCR has made unremitting efforts to respond effectively to refugee crises, promote durable solutions to the refugee problem and improve funding mechanisms, for which China expresses its appreciation. Whether in war-torn and volatile regions or in refugee camps where resources are scarce, humanitarian personnel, including UNHCR staff, have always brought protection, dignity, warmth and hope to displaced persons, and some have paid the price with their lives. I would like to pay high tribute to them.
Currently, the global situation of forced displacement is grim. From Africa to the Middle East, from natural disasters to violent conflicts, 120 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and the number of refugees has reached 43.4 million. UNHCR, as an important United Nations agency for coordinating international refugee affairs, has an important role to play. All parties should support UNHCR in playing a greater role, actively implementing the Global Compact on Refugees and the outcomes of the two Global Refugee Forums, and making a greater contribution to solving the global refugee problem through practical actions. To this end, China has four points to make:
First, we should increase our support for UNHCR. At a time when UNHCR is facing an unprecedented shortage of funds, Mr. Grandi has repeatedly called on all parties to increase their support. The issue of funding has a direct impact on UNHCR's ability to provide protection and assistance, and also has a bearing on the survival and development of refugees. On the one hand, we hope that UNHCR will further improve the efficiency of its use of funds and continue to reduce its administrative expenditures, including procurement costs, while at the same time investing more in strategic research on the refugee issue, assisting refugees in local settlement and integration, and increasing the representation of developing countries, which are issues of concern to Global South countries. On the other hand, low and middle income countries host more than 75 percent of the world's refugees, and their economic and social development was overburdened. Together with UNHCR, all parties should help those countries to bridge the huge gap in humanitarian assistance. In particular, countries responsible for the refugee problem should take the lead in increasing funding and support for UNHCR.
China attaches great importance to international cooperation on the refugee issue, and the Chinese Government and enterprises have made substantial donations to UNHCR for many years in a row, and through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, China has carried out a number of projects to improve people’s well-being with UNHCR. China will continue to deepen its practical cooperation with UNHCR and play a greater role in addressing the global refugee crisis within its capacity.
Second, we should strive to address the root causes of the refugee problem. War and conflict are the main causes of large-scale displacement. The humanitarian tragedy created by the current round of the Gaza conflict has exacerbated the already grave global refugee problem. Some refugees had embarked on the arduous journey to find a safe haven with only a few pieces of clothing and a picture of their family. Some are carrying the keys to their homes, not knowing when they will be able to return home, but they say, “If your home is gone, but the keys are still there, there is hope that you can go home.” Last month, the United Nations’ Summit of the Future adopted the Pact for the Future, reaffirming obligations under international law, including international refugee law, and calling for concrete actions and initiatives to protect all civilians in armed conflict. Fighting is not an option, but talks for peace is the way forward. The international community should actively promote a ceasefire, cessation of violence and a political settlement of the relevant issues in order to avoid creating a greater humanitarian disaster. No party to a conflict has the right to prevent humanitarian organizations from providing assistance to refugees, leaving them with “nowhere to run” and in a desperate situation.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has actively explored and practiced a distinctive Chinese way of resolving hotspot issues and, together with a number of developing countries, has put forward initiatives and consensus proposals for the political settlement of crises, which have received wide support. In the future, we will continue to promote these initiatives and contribute to the elimination of conflicts, peace building and the resolution of the refugee problem at its root.
Third, we should strive to find long-term solutions. The causes of displacement are diverse, and factors such as war and conflict, unbalanced development and the climate environment are complex and intertwined. Humanitarian assistance can only address immediate needs, and a comprehensive approach must be adopted to find a longer-term solution. It is necessary to help countries of origin of refugees to enhance their capacity for independent development and embark on the path of long-term peace and stability, so as to create conditions conducive to the return of refugees to their homes. It is necessary to promote sustainable development in developing countries, enhance their capacity for disaster risk management and response to climate change, and reduce cross-border displacement caused by climate and environment.
An important lesson from China's poverty alleviation efforts is the combination of poverty alleviation with “building the wisdom”, “helping the working poor” and “helping the willful”. This is similar to the “sustainable planning” promoted by UNHCR, which essentially involves integrating vulnerable people into the national development system, enhancing their willingness and ability to become self-reliant and finding longer-term solutions. China welcomes the significant increase in funding for solutions in UNHCR's 2025 budget and will actively participate in discussions on sustainable planning.
Fourth, emerging technologies could be utilized to enhance UNHCR's effectiveness. Currently, the development of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies provides opportunities for solving the refugee problem, and plays an important role in enhancing refugee status determination, trend analysis and early warning of refugee data, refugee education and skills training. UNHCR set up Innovation Service in 2012, actively utilizing AI and other emerging technologies to respond to sudden refugee emergencies, understand refugee needs and improve services for displaced populations, making UNHCR's work more precise, efficient and sustainable.
Recently, China had put forward the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, one of the key objectives of which was to ensure that AI contributed to the well-being of human beings, including, of course, displaced persons and refugees. China welcomes the active participation of all countries and international organizations such as UNHCR in this Action Plan, and from a people-centred perspective, we will help more developing countries to strengthen their AI capacity building, so that it can truly help solve the refugee problem and benefit the refugee community.
Madam President,
China appreciates the efforts made by UNHCR over the past decade to end statelessness and supports the international community in strengthening cooperation to reduce the incidence of statelessness and protect the rights of stateless people. China is also willing to continue to actively work for the protection of stateless people in a humanitarian spirit.
Madam President,
As a natural member of the Global South, China, while pursuing its own development, has continued to provide the world with new opportunities through its new development. Recently, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee) has made comprehensive deployment for further deepening reform and promoting Chinese modernization, thus opening up a new journey for China to work with the world for common development and progress. Last month, at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping announced the 10 partnership action plans for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization in the next three years, drawing up a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation in the new era, which will empower Africa's development and bring tangible benefits to the African people.
China is ready to join hands with all countries in implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to contribute positively to world peace and prosperity and to the resolution of the refugee issue!
Thank you, Madam President.