UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy on Tuesday stressed the importance of containing the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukraine crisis has taken a heavy toll on global economic development, with developing countries bearing the brunt, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).

"The international community should strengthen cooperation on issues such as food, energy, finance, trade and protection of critical infrastructure, in order to jointly maintain the stability and smooth functioning of global supply chains," he told a high-level meeting of the Security Council on Ukraine.

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Instead of contributing to the political settlement of the issue, unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction under the pretext of the crisis create new problems and should therefore be rejected, he said.

Recently, the dialogue and negotiations on the Ukraine crisis have gained momentum, with key parties holding a series of engagements and talks. However, significant differences remain in their positions and proposals, noted Geng. "The parties to the conflict should intensify their efforts, demonstrate political will, show flexibility, and take seriously and address properly each other's legitimate security concerns, so as to reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement at an early date," he added.

Promoting de-escalation is a pressing priority, said Geng.

At present, there are no signs of a halt to hostilities on the ground. The parties to the conflict continue to carry out large-scale drone and missile attacks, and substantial quantities of arms and ammunition continue to flow into the battlefield. China hopes all parties will play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and creating the necessary conditions for the cessation of hostilities at an early date, he said.

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Alleviating the humanitarian crisis is a moral imperative, said Geng.

Civilians are the greatest victims of conflict. The parties to the conflict should exercise restraint, strictly abide by international humanitarian law, refrain under all circumstances from attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, and avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction. The international community should step up humanitarian assistance to help those affected by the crisis overcome their difficulties, he said.

Since day one of the crisis, China has upheld an objective and impartial position, calling for the cessation of hostilities and advocating for peace talks toward a political settlement. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis at an early date, said Geng.