Geng Shuang Photo:Xinhua

China had called for an on all-out effort to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities and avoid man-made nuclear accidents, emphasizing support for the Ukrainian people suffering from severe cold on a United Nations emergency meeting on Ukraine issue.

The Chinese envoy expressed great concern that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to constant attacks on civilian facilities and the steady rise of civilian casualties and displaced persons on an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council held on Wednesday after Ukraine suffered from a barrage of missile and drone strikes against civilians and critical infrastructure.

China called once again all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid actions that may exacerbate the confrontation, and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control, especially to protect civilians and civilian facilities,  said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN. 

Geng emphasized the international community should help Ukraine to urgently repair damaged energy infrastructure provide winter supplies to the affected population, meet the basic needs of the refugees and displaced persons, and ensure that all those in need can be properly resettled and safely overwintered

The issue of nuclear safety and security is of great importance and cannot be compromised as the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was hit by the most intense shelling in months over the weekend, causing serious damage to the plant site, said Geng.

"China supports IAEA as mandated in its continued consultations with Russia and Ukraine, on the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable arrangement", Geng said.

Geng pointed out that managing the spillover effects of the crisis should be the focus of international cooperation on Ukraine. China welcomes the agreement reached by the parties concerned on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the continued efforts of the UN Secretariat to address the obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer, Geng said.

"There is no winner in the conflict and the war, and dialogue and negotiations are the only way forward," said Geng.