China made proposals to the international community on Tuesday
about how to deal with humanitarian challenges caused by armed
conflicts, terrorism, transnational crimes, epidemics, lack of
natural resources and climate change.
"Members of the International Red Cross movement should, on the
basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, mobilize all
possible forces and resources to respond these new types of
challenges," said Li Baodong, Chinese Ambassador to the United
Nations Office in Geneva.
Addressing some 1,500 delegates at the 30th International
Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Li said the world
should seek peace and promote development, as peace and development
are still the main themes in the world today.
"We believe that to use force or threaten to use force could
neither maintain world peace nor contribute to developing
international humanitarian cause," he said.
"Only through development, the North-South gap could be narrowed
and long-term stability and common prosperity could be achieved,"
he added.
The world should also seek unity and strengthen cooperation,
according to the ambassador.
"Today we are faced with great challenges brought about by
global issues including climate change, international migration,
urban violence and influenza pandemic, which cannot be addressed by
one country or one organization alone," he said.
Li also called for adherence to the principles of international
humanitarian law.
"International humanitarian law, especially the four Geneva
Conventions and their protocols, are the cornerstone for the
humanitarian cause," he said.
"We should take further steps to promote and implement the
international humanitarian law, spreading its basic principles to
every corner of the world," he added.
The ambassador said governments also need to strengthen the
national Red Cross societies and build capacity of disaster relief
and surveillance.
"All governments should attach great importance to the work of
national Red Cross societies in spreading the international
humanitarian law, disaster relief and surveillance and social
health and welfare," he said.
The importance of enhanced collaboration is the focus of the
30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent,
which opened in Geneva on Monday. The five-day event will set the
world humanitarian agenda for the next four years.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2007)
