Mr. Chair, Director-General, Excellencies:

In 2024, the International Organization for Migration continues to promote the reform of the budget and governance framework, actively enhances dialogue and cooperation in the field of international migration, and makes important contributions to promoting the orderly migration of the global population. China appreciates the work of Director-General Pope and her team.

The international and regional situation has been undergoing complex and profound changes, and geopolitical tensions remain high. According to the World Migration Report, the number of global migrants has climbed from 154 million in 1990 to 281 million in 2022, accounting for 3.6% of the world's population. International migration activities have become more complex and sensitive. Regular and orderly migration activities have been disrupted. The imbalance of international population mobility has intensified. Global migration governance faces multiple challenges. The international community should take global action with the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, to address the current challenges. China would like to make the following suggestions:

First, open attitude. Both the Global Compact for Migration and the Pact for the Future affirm the positive impact of migration on inclusive growth and sustainable development. The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations and strengthens international cultural exchanges. Migration is an important force in this process. While strengthening migration management, countries should view migration with a more open, inclusive, and fair attitude, and create conditions for immigrants to integrate into local society. Politicizing and weaponizing migration issues should be rejected. As members of a community with a shared future, the international community should have zero tolerance for discrimination and hatred against immigrants. States should establish, expand, and enhance regular migration pathways. By protecting the legitimate rights and interests of migrants, a fair and good environment should be created to make migrants the contributors and beneficiaries of sustainable development and play a positive role in promoting dialogue among civilizations.

Second, promoting development. Unbalanced development is an important driver of migration. The fundamental solution lies in sustainable development. China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, calling on the international community to promote sustainable development throughout the global migration governance process so as to provide a solid foundation for solving migration problems. Developed countries should fulfill their promises of ODA and climate assistance, helping developing countries to promote sustainable development and improve their capabilities to respond to climate change and natural disasters, so as to prevent large-scale passive migration. IOM should pay attention to and address the concerns of developing countries in responding to climate change, and strengthening capacity building. IOM is encouraged to increase assistance to developing countries and eliminate the negative impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on relevant countries.

Third, enhanced collaboration. Migration governance is a complex and systematic work that requires active policy guidance and effective collaboration. The international community should act on true multilateralism, uphold the international system centered around the United Nations, and promote global migration governance to a new level. The countries of origin, transit, and destination should strengthen their dialogue and cooperation, to form a virtuous cycle of multi-level linkage and mutual promotion. The Global Compact on Migration provides an important opportunity for countries to carry out equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of migration. Countries should implement the Compact in accordance with local conditions to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration. Countries should combat illegal and criminal acts such as smuggling and human trafficking through international cooperation and comprehensive measures to jointly improve the level of global migration governance.

Fourth, innovative technology. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data are developing rapidly. The international community should pay attention to the impact of emerging technologies on migration issues and make good use of them. Emerging technologies could be used to optimize migration services, predict population migration trends, improve the ability to identify immigrants, and optimize employment through data-driven algorithms. Developed countries have enjoyed the benefits brought by educational and high-skilled immigrants. They should take greater responsibility to respond to migration challenges, actively release the dividends of science and technology, strengthen data sharing with developing countries and bridge the North-South digital divide in global migration governance.

Mr. Chair,

As the second largest assessed contributor to IOM, China attaches great importance to migration issues. We conscientiously implement the recommendations of the GCM, and do our best to provide various assistance to the international community. China and IOM continue to carry out trilateral cooperation in developing countries through channels such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, making China's contribution to global migration governance. The scale of international labor cooperation between China and the countries participating in the "Belt and Road" continues to expand. Foreign investment engineering contracting labor cooperation projects have covered all participating countries. China continues to cooperate with relevant countries on vocational training, social protection, labor governance, and responding to the challenges of the new technological revolution.

In July 2024, the Communist Party of China held the Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee and made important decisions to further deepen reforms and promote Chinese modernization, which opened a new journey for China to work with the world for common development and progress. China, which is constantly moving towards modernization, will surely provide more opportunities for the world and inject stronger impetus into global migration governance. In the future, China is willing to continue to work with all parties to strengthen international cooperation in the field of migration and contribute more to better protecting the welfare of immigrants and realizing the orderly flow of the global population.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.