Mr. Chairperson,

Let me begin by congratulating you and colleagues of Germany, Korea, Peru as bureau members. I have the confidence that, under your guidance, this session will achieve great success. I would also like to join others to welcome Barbados as a new member of the IOM family.

Under the leadership of the Director-General, I wish to pay tribute with high appreciation to significant progress in all aspects of IOM’s work over the past year.

Mr. Chairperson,

At present, the COVID-19 pandemic still drags on, combined with food, energy and other crises. Immigration management faces serious challenges. Bearing in mind this backdrop, Iwould like to highlight the following points:

First, enhance the leading role of IOM. The international community should increase political support and investment in IOM, mobilize more resources to combat challenges in the field of immigration. This Session of the Council approved the budget reform plan with a view to provide stable and predictable financial support for IOM. It is hoped that could be used in full, with more assistance to developing countries, especially providing greater support to the African continent. In the meantime, we hope that the under-representation of developing countries at IOM secretariat could be addressed.

Second, improve global migration governance.The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration(GCM) should be implemented in line with the principle of sovereignty and national conditions of States. We wish to see more technical assistance could be provided especially to developing countries. There is an urgent need to reinforce international cooperation against COVID-19, and increase the accessibility and affordability of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic and treatment methods in developing countries, with a view to create a sound environment for economic recovery, so as to reduce forced and irregular migration.

Third, protect the legal rights and interests of migrants. COVID-19 pandemic inflicted a severe impact on the livelihood of people across the world, especially migrants in vulnerable situations. All countries should make every endeavour to protect their rights to life, work, health, education, and create a fair and favorable living environment for them by firmly opposing any pandemic-related stigmatization, racial discrimination and hatred.

Mr. Chairperson,

China will continue to support your work and the endeavor of IOM and the Director-General.

The Communist Party of China has recently convened its 20th National Congress, laying out guiding policies for thenext five years and beyond. China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development, stay committed to deepening reform and opening-up, and stay committed to promoting national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.China’s further development will bring more opportunities to the world, and inject stronger momentum for international migration cooperation and governance.

Thank you.