CHINA / DIPLOMACY
China's UN diplomat calls on ceasefire for people suffering as massive heavy weapons keep pouring in Ukraine
Published: Feb 07, 2023 11:45 AM
Dai Bing (front), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during the opening of the main session of the Fifth Committee of the 77th UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct 3, 2022. Dai on Monday urged all UN member states, especially major contributors, to fulfill their financial obligations on time and in full. Photo:Xinhua

Dai Bing (front), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during the opening of the main session of the Fifth Committee of the 77th UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct 3, 2022. Photo:Xinhua


China expressed worries over humanitarian situation in Ukraine at the UN Security Council Briefing on Monday as conflicts on the ground show no signs of easing and large number of heavy weapons keep pouring in, calling on relevant parties to truly promote peace talk and ceasefire for the sake of people there.

The humanitarian situation has always tugged at people's heartstrings over the past year since the Ukraine crisis broke out, but the parties concerned lack the sincerity to promote peace talks and the determination to resolve the issue politically, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN on the humanitarian issue of Ukraine.

Priority should be given to humanitarian issues as the armed conflicts still persist in Ukraine, appreciating the enormous work of international humanitarian agencies and neighboring countries to help refugees and displaced persons, Dai said.

On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced a new assistance package for Ukraine valued at up to $425 million, which included critical air defense and counter-drone capabilities, as well as armored infantry vehicles and equipment such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, artillery ammunition and conventional and long-range rockets for US-provided HIMAR. A week earlier, the US and Germany said that they would provide Ukraine with offensive tanks. 

Dai pointed out that willful sanctions and artificial blocking of the flow of industrial and supply chains will only exacerbate the rippling effect of the Ukraine crisis, and inflict heavy cost on the whole world, especially on developing countries. 

"All parties concerned should manage the spillover effect on global food, energy and financial security in a responsible manner," he said.

The Chinese diplomat emphasized the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, calling for an immediate stop of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and maximum efforts to stop the conflict from escalating to a nuclear crisis. 

"We support International Atomic Energy Agency to remain engaged with Russia and Ukraine over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant issue to reach meaningful arrangements acceptable to both sides as soon as possible," said Dai?

Dai stressed that China always stands on the side of peace, dialogue and humanity and ready to work with the international community to peacefully resolve the crisis.