China opposes politicization of humanitarian issues

ISTANBUL -- A Chinese official, while addressing the first World Humanitarian Summit on Tuesday, called for a full respect of conditions and needs of the recipient countries in the process of delivering humanitarian assistance, voicing opposition to politicizing humanitarian issues.

Qian Keming, China's vice minister of commerce, appealed for more funding and technological support to developing countries while respecting their basic rights.

He called for principles to be upheld for international cooperation, including abiding by the tenets of the UN Charter, respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of the countries concerned, preventing "the politicization of humanitarian issues" and sticking to "non-militarization of humanitarian assistance," and ensuring the recipient countries play a "leading role" in the process.

Other principles are tackling causes as well as symptoms with a view to addressing problems at the root of humanitarian crises, and increasing input into the capacity and resilience-building of developing countries.

Qian referred to the fact that the world is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, with natural disasters and conflicts hitting more frequently and the international and regional situations getting increasingly complicated.

"We must make use of this opportunity to reaffirm the principles and forge consensus, while implementing the follow-ups on the summit's deliverables based on negotiated agreement among member governments," said Qian.

The two-day summit, which kicked off on Monday, is aiming at improving the current humanitarian system that has been running for decades, with focus on conflict prevention and resolution, strengthening the protection of civilians, leaving no one behind, ending humanitarian need and ensuring funding for humanitarian actions.

Stating that China advocates peaceful solutions to conflicts, Qian spoke of his country's active involvement in the political process in war-torn Syria.

"It has proposed a China option for stopping violence, ceasefire and political reconciliation and offered humanitarian aid worth RMB 685 million ($105 million) to the Middle East," he said.

The vice minister noted that China highly values international cooperation in the humanitarian field, and has always been actively assuming its international humanitarian responsibilities and obligations.

"Since 2004, China has provided a huge amount of humanitarian assistance with no political conditions attached, and helped 102 countries and their peoples overcome humanitarian crises," he added.