UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for joint international efforts to advance the political process in Libya.
"Facilitating consensus among Libyan parties on electoral arrangements and the unification of state institutions remains the central task of the Security Council in addressing the situation in Libya," said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
China welcomes the continued efforts of the UN Support Mission in Libya to advance the implementation of the political roadmap, he told the Security Council, noting that the major political forces in Libya should demonstrate political will, place the long-term interests of the country and its people above all else, and work toward compromise and consensus.
International partners should respect the central role of the United Nations in mediation efforts and play a constructive role in helping resolve Libya's political differences, he said.
"The nationwide ceasefire in Libya has been achieved with great difficulty and should be preserved. All parties should refrain from taking any actions that could aggravate the situation and should continue implementing the relevant provisions of the ceasefire agreement," said Sun.
China has taken note of the recent social controversy in Libya concerning migration issues, as well as demonstrations directed at UN agencies, he said, adding that China has also noted the clarification issued by the United Nations.
Emphasizing the threat irregular migration has long posed to Libya's social stability, he said that the international community should assist Libya in strengthening border management and enhancing its capacity to combat transnational crime, so as to jointly curb irregular migration and human trafficking.
The Libyan issue has persisted for many years. While support from international partners is important, any meaningful improvement in Libya's situation ultimately depends on the sense of responsibility demonstrated by Libyan parties themselves. Only through unity and concerted efforts can the current deadlock be truly overcome, he said.
As a good friend of Libya, China firmly supports Libya's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and stands ready to work with the international community to make greater contributions to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Libya, said Sun. ■
