UNITED NATIONS, March 6 -- The international community should continue to strengthen diplomatic efforts to push for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine, said a Chinese envoy here on Friday.

Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, pointing out that "a political solution is the only way out of the question of Ukraine."

Wang said the top priority for the moment is for the parties concerned to continue to implement comprehensively the Feb. 12 Minsk agreement reached by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine and advance the process of political settlement.

Noting that the overall situation in eastern Ukraine has been stable and the ceasefire has largely been maintained, Wang said China is against any gross violation of human rights in Ukraine and any act that causes the deterioration of the humanitarian situation of the country.

Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries has been a consistent position of China, said Wang, adding that in international relations, posing unilateral sanctions or using sanctions as a threat all too often is not conducive to finding a fundamental solution.

"China's position on the question of Ukraine has been objective and impartial," he said. "We call on the parties concerned to continue to make efforts to ease the situation in eastern Ukraine with a view to realizing peace, tranquillity, stability and development of Ukraine."

"China is willing to continue to play a constructive role for a political solution to the question of Ukraine," he added.