Chinese envoy calls for maintenance of current security situation in Yemen

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for efforts to maintain the current relatively stable security situation in Yemen.

The six-month-old truce has brought a glimmer of hope to Yemen. The Yemeni people and the international community had expected the truce to be extended and expanded. Regrettably, this goal has not been achieved, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"The top priority now is to prevent the escalation of tensions and maintain the current relatively stable security situation," he told the Security Council.

"China calls on the relevant parties to put the interests of the Yemeni people first, exercise restraint, act prudently, refrain from any unilateral actions and provocative language that may escalate the situation, and leave enough space for the political process," he said. "At this critical moment, all parties in Yemen should maintain communication and avoid miscalculation."

Dialogue and consultation are the only right way to resolve the Yemeni issue. On Oct. 5, the Security Council called on the Yemeni parties, in particular the Houthis, to return to negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. China hopes that this appeal can be implemented and that the relevant parties can return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, so as to properly resolve their differences and strive to reach a new truce arrangement at an early date, said Geng.

China supports the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative on the issue of Yemen, and encourages countries with influence in Yemen to continue to provide constructive assistance in de-escalating the situation, restoring the truce, and realizing a political settlement, he said.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is continuing and UN humanitarian operations are severely underfunded. Yemen cannot be forgotten by the international community. China calls for the allocation of adequate funding for UN assistance projects in Yemen, he said.