On Wednesday, China called on the United Nations and the international community to take adequate steps at an early date in a bid to put an end to the many-sided conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The statement came as Qin Huasun, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, took the floor at an open Security Council debate on the peace prospects in DRC. The Wednesday debate is the follow-up to the Monday session in a series of the U.N. special meeting on DRC.

"The international community and the United Nations should throw in necessary financial and human resources as soon as possible to resolve the conflict in the DRC, so as to avoid paying

even higher prices in the future," Qin said.

"To resolve this conflict, African countries and the international community have conducted unremitting mediation efforts and brought together the various sides to the conflict to sign last July's Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement," he said.

"Regrettably, however, the Agreement has not been honestly observed or implemented," he said. "The long-awaited United Nations peace-keeping operation is still yet to be put in place, even though the issue has been under discussion in the Council so many times."

Qin said that he was "gratified to see" a detailed report by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has proposed on the U.N. deployment of 5,000 peace-keeping troops to protect 500 unarmed U.N. military observers.

"We hope that the Council will make full use of this precious occasion when heads of state of relevant African countries are gathered here in New York, and move promptly," he said.

On how to peacefully end the conflict in DRC, Qin said, "First,the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be fully respected and safeguard. This is the prerequisite for resolving the conflict."

"Second, the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement, as the basis for resolving the conflict, should be implemented in full and with all earnest," he said. "The Agreement is a useful first step by the

African people towards resolving African conflicts."

Meanwhile, he also called on all sides to respect and support the mediation efforts by President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, the Organization of African Unity and the Southern African

Development Community.

"Third, timely deployment of U.N. peace-keeping operation in the DRC is the essential guarantee for resolving the conflict," he said. "While listening to the views of relevant African countries, the Council should consider and implement the Secretary-General's proposal of sending up to 500 military observers and 5,500-strong forces to the DRC."

"The peace-keeping mission should be given appropriate mandate, " he said. "This is crucial under the current circumstances and will be a critical test of the Security Council's political will and determination."

"Fourth, all-inclusive national political dialogue is an effective means to realize national reconciliation in the DRC," he said. "At the same time, internal dialogue within the DRC will not

be possible without a stable external environment."

"Fifth, the fundamental way out for the DRC to be able to enjoy lasting peace and stability is for the international community to help it eradicate poverty and develop the economy," he said. "In this connection, we support the proposal of convening an international conference on peace, stability, democracy and development of the Great Lake area."

"The road towards peace in the DRC will not be smooth, but we are confident that so long as the international community would grasp the opportunities and make concerted efforts, and so long as the various sides to the conflict will treat each other sincerely and honor their commitment, the people of the DRC and the Great Lake area will surely be able to live in peace and stability in the not very far future," he added.