UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday called for global and regional efforts to bring peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
To ensure stability is an essential step in furthering the political process in the country, said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
"It's important for the international community to urge all the parties, particularly certain parties of the opposition, to put an end to violence and to continue to be committed to the political process and to support the political agreements that have already been reached," Wu told a Security Council meeting.
China welcomes the efforts of the DRC government to further the peace process and strengthen capacity in governance and security. At the same time, the DRC is confronted with various challenges in political, security and humanitarian fields, said Wu.
China appreciates the active role of regional and sub-regional players, such as the African Union, in promoting peace in the DRC and encourages them to seek a peaceful solution using their respective advantages, he said.
The UN Security Council must intensify coordination efforts to send a clear message and to promote synergies of international efforts, he said.
"The international community, in order to contribute to resolving the problems in the DRC, should fully respect the leading role of the government of the DRC. Solutions designed by the international community will be effective only when they respect the leadership of the government and the choice of the people."
The UN Security Council has taken various steps targeting illicit activities of armed groups and produced certain results, said Wu. But sanctions are not an end in themselves, they are a means and should serve the purpose of peace and stability in the DRC, he said.
China will assess the UN sanctions measures in a timely way and play an active role in helping the government and people of the DRC to achieve peace and stability in the country by themselves, said the Chinese envoy.
China has always supported the peace process in the DRC and has worked with the international community and played a constructive role in bringing peace, stability and development in the DRC, he said.
Weak governance and many active armed groups have led to widespread rape and sexual violence, massive human rights violations and extreme poverty. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said about 7.7 million people were on the verge of starvation in the DRC, a 30 percent surge over a year ago.
