China rejects sanctions against Myanmar and calls for "democratic transition," says envoy to UN. "We hope that all parties in Myanmar can keep calm, exercise restraint," adding that any attack on the people and businesses in Myanmar "is unacceptable," Ambassador Zhang Jun said.

FULL STATEMENT:

During the United Nations Security Council consultations on 31 March, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, elaborated China’s position on the current situation in Myanmar.

Zhang Jun said, China is concerned about the situation in Myanmar. Violence and bloodshed serve no one’s interests, and it is the people of Myanmar who suffer. We hope that all parties in Myanmar can keep calm, exercise restraint, and take actions with a constructive attitude to deescalate and cool down the situation. Lives and properties of the people of Myanmar and foreign nationals and businesses should be protected, and any attack on them is unacceptable.

Zhang Jun said, as a close neighbor, China follows the situation in Myanmar very closely. We have been working on all parties in Myanmar and actively engaged in Security Council consensus-building. China emphasizes that all parties in Myanmar should take up the responsibility of maintaining national stability and development, act in the fundamental interests of the people, strive to find a solution to the crisis within the constitutional and legal framework through dialogue and consultation, maintain political and social stability, and continue to advance the democratic transition in Myanmar.

Zhang Jun pointed out, maintaining peace and stability in Myanmar is in the common interest of the international community. Should Myanmar slide into protracted turbulence, it will be a disaster for Myanmar and the region as a whole. The international community should, on the basis of respecting Myanmar's sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and national unity, step up diplomatic efforts and encourage the parties to narrow differences so as to find a way out. One-sided pressure and calling for sanctions or other coercive measures will only aggravate tension and confrontation and further complicate the situation, which is by no means constructive.

Zhang Jun said, the Security Council has reiterated on several occasions its support for the mediation efforts by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General. We hope the Special Envoy will play a constructive role with concrete actions. Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN family. China supports ASEAN in upholding the principles of non-interference and consensus-building, conducting mediation in the ASEAN way and playing a positive role in easing the situation in Myanmar. China has noticed the discussion of ASEAN countries to convene a special summit. We hope and believe that ASEAN will play an important role in finding a solution.

Zhang Jun reiterated, as a friendly close neighbor, China hopes that Myanmar will restore peace, stability and constitutional order as early as possible and continue to steadily advance democratic transition. We will keep engagement and communication with all parties in Myanmar to work for deescalation of the situation.

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