China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Dai Bing, called on all parties in Libya to be committed to reaching a political settlement.
He told the UN Security Council on Thursday that uncertainty remains in the Libyan political process.
“We call on all parties in Libya to put the interests of the country and people first, stay committed to the general direction of political settlement, exercise maximum restraint, refrain from taking any action that may escalate tensions, and maintain the hard-won peace and stability,” Dai Bing told the Security Council.
He added that dialogue and consultations represent the only solution to breaking the political impasse in Libya. He urged all parties in Libya to maintain dialogue to reach a consensus on important issues, such as an election timetable.
“In the long run, the international community, the Security Council in particular, should support parties in Libya in advancing national reconciliation and resolving the deep-seated problems caused by years of turmoil to lay a solid foundation for Libya to achieve long-term stability,” Dai Bing said.
He added that China encourages regional organisations, such as the African Union (AU) and the Arab League (AL), to play an active role.
“External interference has been a significant factor behind the protraction of the Libya crisis.” He added that “the international community should stay committed to the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned principle to provide constructive assistance while refraining from imposing external solutions.”
The Chinese representative said the ceasefire agreement is the cornerstone of maintaining security and stability in Libya and the region. He highlighted the vital role of the Libya’s 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) in implementing the ceasefire agreement and facilitating the withdrawal of foreign armed forces and mercenaries.
“The commission’s resumption of its full duties will help all parties maintain coordination and communication and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations,” he said.
Dai Bing stated that China encourages all parties concerned to resolve differences in oil revenue, management, and distribution through dialogue and consultations and restore stable oil production as soon as possible.
He added that this would also help stabilise the international crude oil market in the current geopolitical context.