China News Agency, United Nations, March 23. The United Nations Security Council voted on the draft resolution on the humanitarian issue of Ukraine drafted by Russia on the 23rd.

Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, voted in favor of the vote and made an explanation of China's voting position.

  Zhang Jun said that after the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, the humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate, and the spillover effects continued to expand, causing widespread concern in the international community.

Reports of rising civilian casualties, rising refugee numbers, and woefully inadequate humanitarian assistance are deplorable.

China has always called for avoiding civilian casualties to the greatest extent possible and making every effort to meet basic humanitarian needs. At the same time, China has always advocated that the Security Council should fulfill its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security and play its due role in Ukraine's humanitarian issue.

  Zhang Jun emphasized that China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and has provided several batches of humanitarian relief supplies to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

We welcome any initiatives and initiatives from other parties that can help alleviate and resolve the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Over the past few weeks, the Security Council has held back and forth on draft resolutions proposed by France, Mexico and Russia.

China has been actively participating and has always called on all parties to focus on humanitarian issues, transcend political differences, try their best to seek consensus, and make active efforts to deal with the current humanitarian crisis.

Regrettably, the Council failed to reach the broadest possible consensus in the end.

  Zhang Jun pointed out that the international community generally hopes to realize a ceasefire as soon as possible, which is also China's strong expectation.

We believe that while promoting a ceasefire and ending the war, the Security Council should also deal with humanitarian crises in a positive, pragmatic and constructive manner.

China voted in favor of the relevant draft resolution. The fundamental starting point is to promote the international community to attach great importance to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and to call on relevant parties to strengthen coordination on humanitarian issues, effectively protect the safety of civilians, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children, and provide for the evacuation of personnel. and humanitarian relief operations.

  Zhang Jun emphasized that on the Ukraine issue, China has always insisted that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully should be taken seriously. should be supported.

  Zhang Jun said that the Ukrainian crisis has brought severe challenges to the world, and the key now is for the parties concerned to demonstrate political will and find a proper solution through negotiations as soon as possible.

It is imperative to call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid civilian casualties, and prevent a larger humanitarian crisis.

The long-term solution is to abandon the Cold War mentality and refrain from engaging in camp confrontation, and gradually build a balanced, effective and sustainable global and regional security architecture.

The Chinese side will continue to be committed to promoting peace talks, to speak out for peace, and to do its best for peace.

  The result of the vote that day was: 2 votes in favor, 13 abstentions, and the draft resolution failed to pass.

The main contents of the draft resolution include guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and protecting the safety of civilians.

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