ICAO should play crucial role in MH17 crash probe: envoy

A Chinese envoy to the UN stressed Monday that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) should "play a crucial role" in the investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

China's permanent representative to the UN Liu Jieyi told the UN Security Council that China deplores the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine, which resulted in the loss of 298 lives onboard.

China supports an independent, impartial and objective investigation into this incident, said Liu.

"As a specialized agency of the UN dealing with international civil aviation affairs, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) should play a crucial role in this international investigation. China calls on all parties to cooperate with this international investigation," the envoy added.

Liu held that the current focus should be the establishment of truth of the crash. "Pending that, all sides should not jump into any conclusion, or engage in conjecture or mutual recrimination."

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday, demanding unrestricted, safe access for the investigators to the crash site and all states and actors in the region to cooperate fully with the international investigation.

Liu said that the unanimous action by the Security Council will "help enhance mutual trust and cooperation of all sides and promote progress in the investigation."