UNITED NATIONS: A Chinese envoy has urged the international community to intensify efforts toward achieving a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a region long affected by instability.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on the Great Lakes region, Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, emphasized that without a genuine and overdue ceasefire, all parties must be encouraged to implement Security Council resolutions, uphold their ceasefire commitments, and refrain from actions that could escalate tensions.
Sun expressed China’s support for mediation efforts led by the African Union, highlighting its central role in addressing the crisis in eastern DRC.
He noted that the Great Lakes region, located at the core of Africa, is rich in natural resources and holds significant development potential. However, achieving peace and prosperity requires mutual respect, dialogue, reconciliation, solidarity, and cooperation among regional nations, alongside international support.
Sun stated that while disagreements between neighboring countries are natural, escalation and the use of force cannot provide lasting solutions. Instead, he stressed the importance of adopting a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, with disputes resolved through dialogue and consultation.
He further explained that the region’s prolonged instability is not only due to immediate security concerns but is also tied to deeper issues such as weak governance and underdevelopment. He pointed out the connection between illegal mining activities and ongoing armed conflict as a key challenge.
Sun called for a long-term strategy to address these underlying issues by strengthening governance, improving livelihoods, and fostering national unity. He also urged the international community to promote fair and mutually beneficial cooperation in mineral resource development, combat illegal mining and smuggling, and ensure transparency while avoiding the politicization of resources.
Reaffirming China’s commitment, Sun said the country will continue to work with all stakeholders to enhance cooperation and support sustainable peace, stability, and development in the Great Lakes region.
