China strongly condemns all acts targeting children, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday.
The meeting was convened two days after the United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran, prompting a series of retaliatory attacks by Iran on U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East. These events led to a UN warning regarding child safety.
On the first day of the attacks, a deadly strike hit a girls' elementary school in southern Iran's Hormozgan province, resulting in the death of at least 165 people, mostly schoolgirls, according to Iranian state media.
Speaking at the meeting, Fu said that as global conflicts continue to erupt one after another, incidents of child harm have been increasing year by year. The Chinese envoy expressed deep concern and strongly condemned all attacks on schools.
"Strengthening child protection is the top priority. China strongly condemns all acts targeting children and urges parties to conflict to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect children from the ravages of war, and uphold the most fundamental moral principles of humanity. Attacking schools is one of the six serious violations against children recognized by the United Nations and must be strongly condemned and firmly opposed," said Fu.
China strongly condemns all acts attacking children: envoy
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the urgent priority concerning the current situation in the Middle East is to immediately halt military operations and prevent the conflict from further spilling over.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in phone talks with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.
During the phone call, Al Busaidi said that, with Oman's mediation, Iran-U.S. negotiations had achieved unprecedented progress. However, he added, it was regrettable that the United States and Israel abandoned the existing outcomes of the talks and launched a war.
If the war continues, it will lead to further casualties and property losses, he said, urging all parties to work together for an early ceasefire.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has consistently followed the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and is a reliable positive force, Al Busaidi said.
At this sensitive moment and under complex circumstances, Oman expects China to play an important role, Al Busaidi said, adding that the Omani side will make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Oman.
Wang said that Oman has actively mediated the Iran-U.S. negotiations and made great efforts to safeguard regional peace, which China appreciates.
Despite progress in the talks, the United States and Israel deliberately provoked a war against Iran, clearly violating the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Wang said.
Calling for keeping the situation from reaching a point of no return, Wang said that China urges all parties to make joint efforts to this end and supports Oman in continuing its mediation work, Wang said, adding that China is also willing to play a constructive role, including upholding fairness and justice at the UN Security Council, striving for peace and stopping the war.
Wang said China attaches importance to the legitimate concerns of Gulf countries and supports them in safeguarding their sovereignty and national security. The spillover of war does not serve the fundamental and long-term interests of Gulf countries, he added.
China expects Gulf countries to strengthen independence, oppose external interference, develop good-neighborly relations, enhance solidarity and cooperation, and take their future into their own hands, Wang said.
Chinese FM calls for immediate stop of military operations in Middle East
