Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday that his country hopes Syria will achieve peace and restore stability as soon as possible, and is willing to play a constructive role to that end.
“Recently, the situation in Syria has undergone drastic changes, to which China pays great attention,” Geng said in his speech at the UN Security Council briefing on Syria.
“It is imperative to stabilize the security situation,” Geng stressed, and called on all parties involved in Syria to exercise calm and restraint, refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation and avoid further conflict.
The ambassador also urged all parties to take measures to prohibit attacks on civilians and protect the safety of diplomatic missions and foreign nationals in Syria.“We hope that Syria’s state institutions will remain operational to create the necessary conditions for the restoration of social order” and that “influential countries, especially those in the region, will play a constructive role in stabilizing the situation in Syria,” he said.
Geng further expressed “grave concern” over Israel’s recent and ongoing airstrikes against Syria and its entry into the demilitarized buffer zone of the Golan Heights, where it intended to expand settlements, and called on Israel to stop these actions.
The ambassador reiterated that China has long pursued a policy of friendship and cooperation with Syria, without interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and respecting the choice of the Syrian people.
Expressing his sincere hope that Syria will achieve peace and restore stability as soon as possible, Geng said China is “willing to play a constructive role to that end.”
He noted that the long-term solution is to promote a political settlement, and stressed that China supports Syria in implementing Security Council Resolution 2254, advancing its internal political process under the principle of “being Syrian-led and Syrian-owned,” and finding a national reconstruction plan through inclusive dialogue.
“The will of the Syrian people should be respected to avoid national division and fragmentation of the internal situation,” the Chinese diplomat stressed, adding that his country supports the active mediation role of the UN and the work of special envoy Geir Pedersen in facilitating dialogue between all parties.
In addition, Geng stressed that what is fundamental is the fight against terrorism and urged Syria to stand firm against any form of terrorism and extremist forces.“Syrian territory should not be used to support terrorism or threaten the security of other countries,” he said.
As the drastic changes in Syria have aggravated the already severe humanitarian crisis across the country, Geng called on all parties to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and facilitate humanitarian operations by UN agencies, urging the country concerned to immediately lift unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria.