Chinese envoy calls for restraint, dialogue on Ukraine

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Thursday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions and resume dialogue and negotiations at an early date.

Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the continued escalation of military attacks had caused significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

"China condemns any attacks against innocent civilians and calls on relevant parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," Sun said.

Sun urged all parties to "exercise restraint and make every effort to de-escalate the situation", adding that recent military confrontation and retaliation "not only inflicts profound sufferings on civilians, but also further fuels hatred and intensifies conflicts, making the path to peace negotiation even more arduous and difficult".

He called on parties to remain calm, strictly abide by international humanitarian law and make every effort to de-escalate the situation, so as to create conditions for an early ceasefire and an end to hostilities.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, also expressed concern over the rising number of civilian casualties and called for an immediate end to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Sun noted that recently the major parties have continued to state their positions on peace talks. Despite significant differences among the parties, "they all support a political solution to the crisis and hope for early peace".

"This is a hard-to-find consensus. The parties should remain patient, actively demonstrate political will, resume dialogue and negotiations at the earliest opportunity, and strive to reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement," he said.

Sun also stressed the need to "remain rational and address each other's security concerns".

"No negotiation is smooth sailing, and no conflict is resolved overnight. This is particularly true for the Ukraine issue," said Sun.

Sun said the parties should "find the greatest common denominator that accommodates each other's security concerns, eliminate the root causes of the conflict in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, promote the establishment of a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture, and achieve long-term stability and peace in the region".

Sun reiterated that China has consistently maintained an objective and impartial position on the Ukraine issue and remains committed to promoting a political settlement.

China has maintained communication and engagement with all parties and continued to promote peace talks in its own way, Sun said.

China stands ready to work with the international community and play a constructive role in advancing an early political settlement of the crisis, he added.