Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN. Photo: Foreign Ministry official website

China supports United Nations in playing coordinating role in international humanitarian relief, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN said in remarks made on Tuesday, stressing that developed countries should shoulder more responsibility to enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities across developing countries.

Addressing the General Assembly when it adopted four humanitarian draft resolutions on Tuesday, representative Geng Shuang said the international community should consolidate and deepen cooperation on disaster prevention and mitigation led by the UN.

He suggested developed countries make more support available to disaster-prone developing countries in the form of funds, technology and disaster relief management expertise, as well as fulfill their responsibilities and international obligations to address climate change, especially taking seriously their annual aid commitment of $100 billion in a timely manner.

Abiding the UN Charter and resolution 46/182 of UN General Assembly and the principle of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as well as international humanitarian laws, any humanitarian relief should respect sovereignty, not interfere in internal affairs of recipient countries and avoid politicizing and instrumentalizing humanitarian issues.

To fully address humanitarian crises, the international community should resolve conflicts and differences through peaceful means, dialogue and negotiation, and commit to promoting the political settlement of sensitive issues, the Chinese envoy said.

Geng emphasized providing greater protection on vulnerable groups such as women, children, refugees and displaced persons. Unilateral coercive measures should be lifted at an early date to avoid exacerbating already dire situations, he urged.

He called on donors to increase their assistance, close the funding gap, responding to all humanitarian crises without discrimination and provide a helping hand to African countries.

The international community, he continued, must combine short-term assistance with long-term development, increase development assistance and ensure a smooth transition from relief to development.

At a UN Security Council meeting on humanitarian of Ukraine on Tuesday, Geng said humanitarian issues in Ukraine must be placed at a priority position in face of a global and complex crisis. People in Ukraine are now experiencing the dual challenges brought by war and extreme cold in which humanitarian needs significantly rise as water, power and heating supplies face severe shortages.

He said that all efforts must be made to slow the spillover impact of the crisis in Ukraine and promote the resumption of negotiations toward a political settlement of the crisis. China opposes to politicalize, instrumentalize and weaponized of food and energy issues, Geng said, calling for the lifting of unilateral sanctions so as to maintain the momentum of a global economic recovery.