Envoy: Cease-fire in Ukraine a top priority

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Thursday told a resumed emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine that facilitating a cease-fire is a top priority, and the international community should work together to promote peace talks.

"China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld," said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the UN.

"The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously. And all efforts conducive to peaceful resolution of the crisis should be supported," he said.

The 11th emergency session of the General Assembly resumed on Wednesday two days before the first anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"The top priority is to facilitate cease-fire and cessation of hostilities without delay," Dai emphasized, adding that conflicts and wars have no winners. "The longer the brutality, the greater the human suffering," he said.

He called on the parties to the conflict to remain rational, restrain their impulses, and prevent the crisis from getting worse or even out of control.

"The parties to the conflict should strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, protect women, children, and other victims of the conflict, and respect the basic rights of prisoners of war," said Dai. "Parties should strictly abide by the Convention on Nuclear Safety and guard against man-made nuclear accidents."

Dai reiterated that nuclear weapons cannot be used. "Nuclear war cannot be fought. All parties should join together against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear proliferation, and avoid a nuclear crisis," he said.

Dai said dialogue and negotiation are "the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis".

"The lessons of history tell us that crises, however deep, can ultimately be resolved peacefully. No matter how difficult it is, the door to a political solution cannot be closed," he said.

"We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other, resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible, bringing their legitimate concerns into the negotiation, setting out feasible options, and giving a chance to an early end of the crisis and the rebuilding of peace," he said.

Dai said the international community should strive to facilitate peace talks. "One year into the Ukraine crisis, brutal facts have offered ample proof that sending weapons will not bring peace; adding fuel to the fire will only exacerbate tensions, and prolonging and expanding the conflict will only make ordinary people pay an even heftier price.," he said.

"We reiterate our appeal that diplomacy and negotiation cannot be abandoned, and efforts towards cease-fire and talks must go on," he said, adding that the international community "should create conditions for this to happen, rather than fanning the flames and seeking self-interest".

"We urge the countries concerned to stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. Instead, they should act in a way conducive to de-escalation," said Dai.