China calls for resolution of Ukraine crisis

After the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, China Sunday called for a political solution instead of confrontation on the issue.

"China does not agree to a move of confrontation," Xinhua quoted Qin Gang, China's foreign ministry spokesman, as saying in response to a question after the UN vote Saturday.

Russia vetoed the draft resolution, drawn up by the US and backed by Western countries.

The draft declared that a planned referendum slated for Sunday on the status of Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea "can have no validity" and urged other countries and international organisations not to recognise it.

"The vote on the draft resolution by the Security Council at this juncture will only result in confrontation and further complicate the situation, which is not in conformity with the common interests of both the people of Ukraine and those of the international community," Qin said, explaining why China, a permanent Security Council member, abstained from the vote.

"In the current situation, we call on all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of the tensions," the foreign ministry spokesman added.

"All parties in the meantime should refrain from taking any action that may further escalate the situation," he stressed.