China will continue to provide timely updates on the disaster situation and relief efforts related to the mudslide that struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, had left 43 people dead and 519 others missing at the border port as of 18:00 Saturday.
Responding to a related media query, Mao said that "The international media have paid close attention to the Gyirong landslide disaster and have expressed interest in entering the affected area for coverage. After round-the-clock emergency repairs initially reopened access routes to the disaster zone, China invited journalists from eight foreign media outlets, including NBC, CNN, Reuters, RT, and the Press Trust of India, to enter the hardest-hit areas to observe the disaster situation, rescue efforts, and recovery and reconstruction progress. They also attended a press briefing held by the Xizang Autonomous Region for both Chinese and foreign journalists. I am sure that you have all read the reports published by the relevant media outlets."
"China will continue to make every effort to carry out search and rescue operations and post-disaster recovery, and will promptly release the latest updates on the disaster situation and relief efforts," she said.
An official briefing was held by the emergency response and rescue headquarters for the disaster in Xizang on Sunday.
China to continue promptly releasing latest updates on landslide disaster, rescue operations in Gyirong: spokeswoman
A Chinese envoy on Monday called for preserving basic humanitarian protections, easing tensions and seizing a window for peace talks as the UN Security Council voiced concern over rising civilian casualties and worsening winter humanitarian risks in Ukraine.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the Ukraine crisis was reaching a critical juncture for a negotiated settlement, as international calls for peace and talks grew stronger. Recent exchanges among key stakeholders had sent positive signals, he said, and China supported efforts toward peace, urging all parties to work with one another, sustain the positive momentum and advance an early political settlement.
Sun said parties to the conflict had recently expressed views on a political resolution, while the international community had made extensive diplomatic efforts to encourage peace and negotiations. Russia, Ukraine and the United States are set to hold another round of trilateral talks. The parties should demonstrate political will, maintain contact and communication, gradually build consensus and work together toward a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement, he said.
"Conflict and war have no winners. All parties should learn lessons from this crisis, uphold the principle of indivisible security, take each other's legitimate security concerns seriously and address them properly, and pay particular attention to the root causes of the conflict. They should build a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture," said Sun.
Sun said China's position on Ukraine was consistent and that China had always advocated peace talks and a political settlement. China has maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties and actively pursued shuttle diplomacy, working persistently to create conditions for talks and build consensus for peace.
China stands ready to continue working with the international community toward an early ceasefire, an end to hostilities, and lasting peace and stability in the region, he said.
China calls for peace talks to end Ukraine crisis
