UN chief: Settle differences peacefully

All countries involved in South China Sea disputes should settle their differences peacefully and “avoid any escalation or misunderstandings that could put security and development in the region at risk”, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in Beijing on Thursday.

“As secretary-general, I cannot comment on the arbitration case in which the ruling may be issued shortly,” Ban said at a news conference after talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. However, the disputes should be resolved in a peaceful manner, he said.

Ban also met with President Xi Jinping.

During the news conference, Wang said China also wants a peaceful resolution, but is opposed to “any effort to reject dialogue, or to unilaterally initiate arbitration without the consent of the other party”.

“This approach will not help bring out a peaceful resolution of the disputes,” Wang said. “On the contrary, it will only escalate the disputes and the tensions and should be resisted by all countries and people who uphold justice in the world.”

During his talks with Ban, President Xi said that China supports political resolution of international hot spot issues and encourages dialogue and negotiations.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the largest developing country, China will continue to be a firm supporter of and participant in the UN, Xi said, adding that the UN should be the main channel for coordinating international relations.

Economic globalization has brought not only opportunities and development, but also challenges and problems, Xi told Ban, who is making his 10th visit to China as UN secretary-general.

The president spoke highly of the performance of Ban in maintaining world peace, promoting sustainable development and dealing with climate change as secretary-general in the past decade.

China would like to share development opportunities with the world, Xi said.

He welcomed Ban to attend the G20 summit to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in September. He also said China will push the G20 leaders to focus on development issues.

Ban expressed condolences for the loss of the Chinese soldier who was killed in June in an attack on peacekeepers in Mali, and he expressed gratitude for China’s support for and participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Additionally, the UN would like to enhance cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to promote infrastructure construction in developing countries, he said.