A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Thursday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions and resume dialogue and negotiations at an early date.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the continued escalation of military attacks had caused significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.
"China condemns any attacks against innocent civilians and calls on relevant parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," Sun said.
Sun urged all parties to "exercise restraint and make every effort to de-escalate the situation", adding that recent military confrontation and retaliation "not only inflicts profound sufferings on civilians, but also further fuels hatred and intensifies conflicts, making the path to peace negotiation even more arduous and difficult".
He called on parties to remain calm, strictly abide by international humanitarian law and make every effort to de-escalate the situation, so as to create conditions for an early ceasefire and an end to hostilities.
