New York, United States - September 25, 2024

China firmly supports Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity while strongly opposing any indiscriminate attacks against civilians, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Wednesday.

Addressing an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the current escalating tensions between Lebanon and Israel, Fu stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of UN peacekeepers, noting that UN personnel and assets must not be targeted in armed attacks.

Fu pointed out that since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October last year, the international community has focused its efforts in promoting an immediate ceasefire and preventing the spillover and expansion of the conflict. However, the actual situation has been moving in the opposite direction.

Fu urged Israel to make the right decision, put aside the obsession with the use of force, stop military operations in Gaza, end actions violating Lebanon's sovereignty and security, and stop the risky actions that may drag the region into a new catastrophe.

China urges all the relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that would escalate tensions, Fu said.

Fu hoped that all the members of the United Nations Security Council would demonstrate the political will and the leadership for maintaining peace. He urged them to respond to the expectations of Lebanon and other Arab nations by supporting the Security Council to take prompt and necessary actions and play their due role in helping stop the war and deescalate the current situation.

Shotlist:
U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Sept 25, 2024:
FILE: U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
1. UN headquarters, flags;
2. Buildings;
3. UN flag;
4. UN logo;
U.N. Headquarters, New York City - Sept 25, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN (starting with shot 4):
"China is gravely concerned about the current situation between Lebanon and Israel. We firmly support Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity, and strongly condemn any actions violating the basic norms governing the international relations.";
6. Emergency meeting in progress;
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN:
"As world leaders are gathering in New York and voicing their overwhelming support for maintaining peace in the Middle East during the UN General Assembly debate, Israel has chosen to expand the war at this time, which is nothing less than a mockery of international public welfare and the authority of the international law. The Middle East cannot afford a new war. The top priority is to stop military adventures and promote the de-escalation of the situation.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 20, 2024
8. Various of emergency rescue staff, ambulances at explosion site after Israeli airstrike;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 17, 2024
9. Ambulances moving through traffic.

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