President Xi meets UN Secretary-General on hot issues

PREVENT UKRAINE FROM HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Xi said efforts should be made to prevent Ukraine from falling into humanitarian crisis.

Describing the crash of a Malaysian plane in eastern Ukraine as "a tragedy," Xi said the incident showed that "it is important and imperative to properly address the Ukraine crisis."

On July 17, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, went down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The cause of the incident remains unknown and the investigation cannot go smoothly due to the armed conflicts in the region.

Xi said he hoped all relevant parties could make concerted efforts and good use of the existing communication channels and mediation mechanisms to advance a political solution.

Xi urged all parties to negotiate for a program that could take into consideration the interests of all parties in a balanced manner at an early date.

Efforts should be made to "ease the tense situation and avoid acceleration of confrontations and conflicts in an alternative way," he said.

He stressed that China continues to support the UN to play a major part in the process.

Ban said that a political solution, rather than the use of force, is the only right way to resolve the Ukraine issue. The United Nations appreciates China's stance on the issue and hopes China will continue playing a constructive role in advancing dialogue and addressing the Ukraine crisis in a peaceful way.

SUPPORT IRAQI GOVERNMENT IN STABILIZATION

Xi said China will continue to support the Iraqi government in stabilizing the situation in the country.

Xi described the development of the situation in Iraq as "both expected and unexpected." The way for Iraq to escape its current troubles is internal unity and no more external turmoil, he said.

Since June, an insurgency by the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or simply the Islamic State (IS), has forced thousands of Iraqi people, mainly from minority communities, to flee their homes.

The United States dispatched 300 military advisors to Iraq in June to help the Baghdad government confront rapidly advancing ISIL terrorists, and launched rounds of air strikes against ISIL forces.

On Friday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on sanctions against extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, including ISIL.

Xi hoped all parties in Iraq could put the country's interests first, push forward the reconciliation process and form a broadly representative government.

He also stressed that the international community should respect the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity while providing assistance.

Ban echoed Xi, saying he hoped all sides could make joint efforts to promote Iraq's reconciliation process.

"VIOLENCE AGAINST VIOLENCE" CANNOT SOLVE THE PALESTINE-ISRAEL ISSUE

With regard to the escalating situation in the Middle East, Xi said China is concerned about the region, where conflicts between different ethnic groups, religions and religious sects have reemerged, and the Palestine-Israel, Syria and Iraq issues have intertwined and affected one another.

The president said "violence against violence" cannot solve the Palestine-Israel issue. China will also continue to support the conciliation efforts by the UN and Ban to promote all parties in Syria to find a "middle way."

Xi and Ban also discussed the situation in northeast Asia. Xi said he hopes countries in the region can make concerted efforts to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

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