New York, United States - October 15, 2024

China calls for calmness and restraint of all sides to prevent the Red Sea situation from worsening, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Yemen issue on Tuesday.

Over the past weeks, the conflict in Gaza continued, and the Lebanon-Israel situation sharply worsened, with side effects spilling over, while the Houthis attacked Israel, and Israel launched air strikes at Yemen's ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa, Geng said.

He said China is deeply concerned over the current situation and its future course, highlighting the priority is to deescalate the situation and prevent the conflict from intensifying.

Geng stressed that dialog and negotiations are the only right choice to resolve the Yemen issue.

Noting that the situation in Yemen is closely related to the Middle East situation, Geng said the conflict in Gaza lasting over one year has caused unprecedented humanitarian crisis and is pulling the region into the mire of war and conflict.

At this critical moment, the situation must not be allowed to further deteriorate to a point of no return, he said.

Geng urged the UN Security Council to maintain solidarity and take measures to halt reckless risk-taking military operations that will intensify the conflict and push for permanent ceasefire in Gaza and deescalate the Lebanon-Israel conflict as soon as possible to avoid an even greater catastrophe in the Middle East.

Shotlist:
UN Headquarters, New York City - Oct 15, 2024:
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
1. UN headquarters;
2. UN flag;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Oct 15, 2024
3. Various of meeting in progress; Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to United Nations, speaking;
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to United Nations:
"The continuous tensions in the Red Sea do not conform to the common interests of the international community. China once again calls on the Houthis to respect the right of business ships from all countries to sail in the waters of the Red Sea, stop attacking and disturbing the ships, and maintain the safety of the waterways in the sea. All relevant parties also should stay calm, exercise restraint and stop actions that escalate the tensions.";
Hodeidah, Yemen - Sept 30, 2024
5. Various of debris after airstrikes;
6. Various of traffic;
Gaza Strip - Oct 14, 2024
7. Various of damaged vehicles, buildings after airstrikes.

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