At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that dialogues and consultations are the “only correct choice” to resolve the ongoing crisis in Yemen.
Addressing the council, Geng urged all parties involved to remain calm and refrain from actions that could escalate tensions in the Red Sea. He called on the Houthis to respect international law by ensuring the safety of shipping lanes and the navigation rights of merchant ships from all countries.
“Continued tensions in the Red Sea do not serve the common interests of the international community,” Geng stated. “China believes that the top priority is to cool down the situation and prevent the conflict from expanding.”
He highlighted the need for all parties to adhere to a political settlement, encouraging them to resolve differences through dialogue and jointly advance a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned comprehensive political process. Geng also called for support of the UN’s special envoy for Yemen to move towards a substantive political resolution.
The Chinese diplomat appealed to the international community to increase humanitarian aid and development assistance for Yemen, supporting the government’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of its people. He expressed grave concern over the detention of UN personnel in Yemen, urging all parties to facilitate their unconditional release as soon as possible.
The situation in Yemen has broader regional implications, with Geng referencing the heightened tensions in Gaza and Lebanon, and the continued strikes between Houthi forces and Israel. “China calls on all parties concerned to stick to the general direction of political settlement,” he reiterated, emphasizing the importance of preventing the conflict from expanding.
Reference(s):
Dialogue 'only correct choice' to resolve Yemen crisis: Chinese envoy
cgtn.com
