NEW YORK: A Chinese envoy on Tuesday emphasized the importance of preventing the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis.
The Ukraine crisis has taken a heavy toll on global economic development, with developing countries bearing the brunt, said Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
“The international community should strengthen cooperation on issues such as food, energy, finance, trade, and the protection of critical infrastructure to jointly maintain the stability and smooth functioning of global supply chains,” he told a Security Council meeting in Ukraine.
Instead of helping to resolve the political issue, unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction under the pretext of the crisis cause new problems and should therefore be rejected, he said.
Recently, dialogue and negotiations regarding the Ukraine crisis have gained momentum, with key parties engaging in a series of discussions. However, significant differences still exist in their positions and proposals, noted Geng. “The parties to the conflict should intensify their efforts, demonstrate political will, show flexibility, and take seriously and address properly each other’s legitimate security concerns, to reach a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement at an early date,” he added.
Geng emphasized that promoting de-escalation is a top priority.
Currently, there are no signs of a halt to hostilities on the ground. The parties involved in the conflict continue to conduct large-scale drone and missile attacks, and significant amounts of arms and ammunition keep flowing into the battlefield. China hopes that all parties will take a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and creating the necessary conditions for an early end to the hostilities, he said.
Geng stated that alleviating the humanitarian crisis is a moral obligation.
Civilians are the greatest victims of conflict. The parties involved should exercise restraint, strictly follow international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure under any circumstances, and refrain from using weapons of mass destruction. The international community should increase humanitarian aid to assist those affected by the crisis in overcoming their difficulties, he said.
Geng said that since the start of the crisis, China has kept an objective and neutral position, calling for a stop to hostilities and supporting peace talks to reach a political solution. China is ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in promoting an early political settlement of the crisis.
