China urges Serbia, Kosovo to further promote dialogue

China on Monday urged Serbia and Kosovo to step up their efforts in maintaining and furthering dialogue.

Li Baodong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at an open UN Security Council meeting on United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

The situation in Kosovo is calm in general but still remains sensitive and fragile, Li said. "We are concerned about the tension between ethnic communities in Kosovo, especially in northern Kosovo. We hope the parties concerned will adopt a cautious approach, settle their differences through dialogue and refrain from any actions that may complicate and escalate the situation."

Serbia categorically refuses to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, though most leading European countries and the United States have exchanged diplomats with Kosovo.

Kosovo is currently supervised by NATO peacekeepers and the European Union. In Kosovo, ethnic Albanians make up 90 percent of the population.

Li said that China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia should be fully respected. Concerning the Kosovo issue, Li stressed the mutually acceptable solution should be sought within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and on the basis of dialogue among various parties.

"We expect relevant parties to increase their efforts to maintain and push forward with the dialogue. It's not only in the interest of the parties concerned and serve the people's well-being, but is also conducive to the peace and stability of the Balkan region and the Europe at large," said the Chinese ambassador, who added that China also supports the continued work of the UNMIK in line with the mandate conferred upon it by the UN Security Council, and calls for a more active and constructive role for it in solving the problems in Kosovo.