Chair,

China commends the positive progress made between the Secretariat and Syria in addressing relevant outstanding issues since the Director General's visit to Syria in March this year. encourages Syria to earnestly fulfill its safeguards obligations and supports the Agency's Secretariat in maintaining communication and cooperation with Syria to promote the early and proper resolution of related issues. China believes that it is not meaningful in practical terms for the Board to continue to discuss this issue as a separate agenda item. For that reason, China supports the proposal of relevant countries that the issue should no longer be included in the agenda of the Board.

Thank you, Mr. Chair