Q: On July 12, China voted against the draft resolution to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe in the United Nations Security Council. Please introduce the position of the Chinese side.

A: On July 12 of Beijing Time, the UN Security Council failed to adopt the draft resolution intended to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe. China, Russia, South Africa, Libya, Vietnam voted against the resolution.

The Chinese side is worried about the current situation in Zimbabwe. We believe that the parties concerned should seek compromise and cooperation through political dialogue and negotiation. This is the only correct way to solve the stalemate in Zimbabwe. The AU and SADC are actively undertaking mediation on this issue. The international community should provide constructive help for their mediation efforts, and avoid adopting actions that could have a negative impact on the atmosphere of dialogue. This is the common request of the AU countries, which the Security Council should pay attention to and respect.

Under the current circumstances, the adoption of the sanction resolution on Zimbabwe will not be conducive to promote political dialogue and negotiation and yield achievements between different parties. On the contrary, it will further complicate the situation in Zimbabwe. Many Security Council members including China have expressed such concern, requesting continuous consultation and give enough time for the ongoing mediation efforts of AU. It is regrettable that such reasonable proposition has not received due regard and response from the proposing countries. Under such circumstances, the Chinese side cast a negative vote.

We call on parties of Zimbabwe to put the national and people's interests first, fully cooperate with the mediation by AU and SADC, so as to reach the solution in line with the will of people and the political reality in Zimbabwe at an early date.