BEIJING, Feb. 19 -- China on Wednesday called for dialogue among Ukraine's different factions to restore social order after Tuesday's violence.

"China has been closely watching the situation in Ukraine, and regrets the causalities caused by conflict," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press conference.

China hopes all sides will take their national interests as a priority, settle differences via dialogue and resume normal social order at an early date, Hua said.

The international community should play a positive role in that direction, she said.

Violent clashes continued Wednesday between anti-government protesters and riot police in capital Kiev, resulting in the deaths of 20 civilians and policemen.

The violence is the latest wave of clashes in a political standoff that began last November when the government backtracked on European integration.