Marking the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, a Chinese envoy said Wednesday that containing conflicts is the fundamental way to effectively prevent genocide.

Wang Min, deputy permanent representative of China to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting devoted to commemorating what the envoy referred to as "one of the darkest chapters in human history."

"Preventing and containing conflicts constitute the fundamental way to effectively prevent genocide," he said, pointing out that religious and ethnic contradictions, underdevelopment, weak capacity among other problems are potential factors that give rise to tribal tensions, aggravate social contradictions, and even lead to bloodshed.

To contain and eliminate the root causes of conflict breed, Wang noted, it's necessary to take comprehensive measures, address both the symptoms and root causes, as well as create a peaceful environment, which conduces to national harmony and unity, by promoting inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation process.

He also calls on the governments to fulfill their obligations and bear the primary responsibility to protect their own civilians.

"Governments and parties to the conflicts should abide by the international humanitarian law as well as the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and spare no effort to protect civilians from genocide and other injuries," he said.

In addition, Wang said that the international community should give importance to helping countries concerned achieve economic growth and social progress, so as to eliminate the economic and social causes for conflicts.

"International financial and development aid agencies should increase investment in Africa and other underdeveloped countries, carry out all their commitment to assistance and debt relief, help Africa raise the necessary resources to achieve comprehensive development, strengthen their capacity building and provide political, financial and technical support," he said.

The genocide in 1994 was sparked off shortly after the plane of the country's late President Juvenal Habyarimana was secretively shot down on April 6.

About 1 million people, mainly Tutsis and politically-moderate Hutus, were killed during 100 days of brutal massacres starting April 7, 1994 in Rwanda.