Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Border Situation |
2022-09-15 13:00 |
Mr. President, I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing. China is concerned about the recent armed conflicts and casualties in the border areas of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Maintaining regional peace and stability is in the common interest of the two countries. We call on the two countries to exercise restraint, resolve problems and differences through political dialogue, and take measures to avoid further escalation of the situation. As informed by the briefing just now, both sides have come to a latest ceasefire agreement. We hope that both parties will abide by this agreement in a common effort to ease the situation. Armenia and Azerbaijan set up a border demarcation committee this May and held joint meetings recently. We hope that two sides will continue to interact positively on the border issue. The normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan is inseparable from the proper settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. China acknowledges the historical development of the issue and our position has been consistent. We support the resolution of problems and differences through political dialogue, and hope that all parties will find a proper solution as soon as possible in accordance with universally recognized international law and norms governing international relations. China welcomes and supports the tripartite joint statement reached by Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2020, and will continue to support positive progress to be made on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue under the framework of the Minsk group and with the good offices of Russia. Armenia and Azerbaijan are inseparable neighbors. Maintaining stable bilateral relations and developing forward-looking friendly cooperation is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also conducive to peace and stability of the whole region. We hope and believe that both countries have full political wisdom in their possession and are able to resolve problems and differences through dialogue and consultation, restore peace and stability, and achieve common security. China is willing to work with the international community to make constructive efforts in achieving this objective. I thank you, Mr. President. |