(Photo by Shen Hong, Xinhua News Agency)

China is seriously concerned over the worsening situation in Libya.

We support the Security Council in taking appropriate and necessary action to stabilize the situation in Libya and put an end to the acts of violence against civilians at an early date．

China has all along stressed that the action of the Security Council should comply with the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international law, respect the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Libya, and help resolve the current crisis in Libya through peaceful means．

China always opposes the use of force in international relations．During Security Council consultations on resolution 1973,China and some other Council members raised some specific issues．Regrettably, however, there is no clarification or answer to many of these issues．China has serious concerns over some elements of the resolution．

In the meantime,China attaches great importance to the decision made by the 22-member Arab League on the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya. We also attach great importance to the positions of African countries and the African Union．

(Photo by Shen Hong, Xinhua News Agency)

Based on these factors and taking into consideration the special circumstances in Libya, China cast a vote of abstention on resolution1973．

We support the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, the African Union and the Arab League in their continued commitment to peaceful settlement of the current crisis in Libya.