国内英语新闻:Chinese envoy calls for efforts to solve hotspot issues in Sahel region

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the United Nations Wednesday called on the international community to put in efforts to solve hotspot issues in the Sahel region and support its peace process.

"At present, the situation in the Sahel region is a source of concern and calls for greater input and integrated approach by the international community," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council meeting on situations in the Sahel region.

Liu said that the international community should actively support the political process in countries in the region to steadily achieve peace, stability and development.

He called for active support to relevant parties in Mali for the comprehensive implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement signed in June, 2015.

The envoy also suggested that the UN should make more efforts to promote counter-terrorism actions in the region.

"The international community should assist the countries in the region to speed up security capacity building and support their counter-terrorism efforts," he said.

On development, Liu noted that countries in the Sahel region should take the opportunity of the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which was adopted in September, to formulate their development agenda and strategies to their national conditions.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to China-Africa relations. China has made unremitting efforts in promoting peace and development in Africa by providing bilateral assistance and participation in peacekeeping operations," Liu said.

Next month, a summit of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, which will be the first FOCAC meeting in Africa. Leaders from China and African countries will gather to draw up a plan for the development of China-Africa relations and cooperation for the next three years.

"China will take this opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with African countries in industrialization, agricultural modernization, public health, people-to-people exchanges, peace and security and other areas so as to bring tangible benefits to African countries including those in the Sahel region and achieve win-win cooperation and common development," Liu said.