China calls for political settlement to Yemeni conflict

China called for a political solution to the Yemen conflict and urged all parties to resolve their issues through dialogue at a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East and Yemen on Tuesday.

Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, stressed that the Yemen crisis cannot be separated from the wider regional situation, and that only through peaceful negotiations can tensions be eased and the humanitarian situation be improved.

China welcomes the U.S.-Iran agreement on the first-phase memorandum of understanding and appreciates Pakistan’s role as a mediator, the representative said.

He added that China supports Yemen in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and looks forward to and supports the parties to the conflict in gradually building mutual trust and restarting the Yemen peace process.

On the Red Sea situation, China said it is the common responsibility of all parties to keep shipping lanes in the area safe. No party should escalate tensions or take provocative actions on the Red Sea issue.

China noted that Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and urged the international community to step up emergency aid to the country, ease the dire conditions for its people, and prevent a major catastrophe.

“It is particularly alarming that 18.3 million people in Yemen are currently facing severe food insecurity. China notes that the World Bank has approved a new round of aid for Yemen, and we call on the international community to provide greater emergency humanitarian assistance to effectively improve the livelihoods of the Yemeni people and avert a large-scale crisis,” said Sun.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Tuesday addressed the High-Level Meeting of African Heads of State and Government and Partners on the Ebola Disease Outbreak via video link.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and a global community of health for all has charted the course for international cooperation in fighting the pandemic.

Noting that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Liu said China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the African Union (AU), and dispatched medical expert teams to the DRC.

Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 Chinese medical professionals who are working in African countries stand side by side with local people in combating the disease, he said.

China stands ready to provide more medical support to Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and calls for the international community to enhance solidarity and cooperation to increase support for African countries, said Liu.

Burundian President and current Chairperson of the AU Evariste Ndayishimiye chaired the meeting. Heads of state and government from more than 10 African countries, including South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe, attended the meeting. Representatives from international and regional organizations such as the World Health Organization and partners from outside the region also attended.