China calls for commitment to political settlement of Ukrainian issue

UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy to the UN on Tuesday called for commitment to a political settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"China calls on all parties concerned to effectively implement the (Minsk II) agreement, stay committed to the general direction of political settlement and seek a comprehensive solution through dialogue and consultation in order to facilitate the achievement of peace, stability, and development in Ukraine," said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Minsk II agreement was signed four years ago and subsequently endorsed by the UN Security Council. The agreement has played a critical role in the political mediation of the Ukrainian crisis, Wu told the Security Council.

Over the past four years, the authority of the agreement has always enjoyed high recognition from all parties. Various mechanisms relating to the implementation of the agreement have largely been functioning well. Regrettably, however, many Minsk provisions are yet to be fully and effectively implemented, he said.

"The political mediation process of the Ukraine crisis has come to a standstill and there lacks an effective guarantee of the safety of civilian lives and property in the conflict area," he warned.

A fundamental and long-term solution to the Ukrainian issue requires that on the one hand, the legitimate rights, interests, and aspirations of all regions and ethnic groups in Ukraine should be fully accommodated. On the other hand, attention must also be paid to addressing the reasonable concerns of all relevant parties in order to achieve a balance among all interests, said the Chinese envoy.

China has consistently maintained an objective and impartial position on the Ukrainian crisis, he said. "We have always believed that the crisis cannot be solved by means of force, and that dialogue and negotiation is the only way out. China will remain committed to playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis."