China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu (C, Front) addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Tuesday that China opposes military intervention in Venezuela.
"China maintains that all countries should abide by the basic principles of international law and international relations, opposes foreign interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, and opposes military intervention in Venezuela," Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela.
"China opposes using the issue of so-called humanitarian assistance for political purposes to create disability or even turbulence inside Venezuela and in the neighboring region," he added.
"This serves no party's interest," the ambassador noted.
Noting that China "pays close attention to" the current situation in Venezuela, the envoy said that China supports the efforts of the Venezuelan Government to safeguard sovereignty, independence and stability.
"The affairs of Venezuela should be up to the Venezuelan people themselves," the envoy noted.
"China calls on the Government and the opposition of Venezuela to, within the constitutional and legal frameworks, seek a political settlement through dialogue and consultation," Ma said.
The ambassador pointed out that recently the Venezuelan government "has remained calm and exercised restraint and been dedicated to upholding the domestic peace and stability," noting that "China calls on the international community to do things truly beneficial to the stability, economic development of Venezuela and to the improvement of its people's life."
"We hope that the international community, on the premise of respecting Venezuela's sovereignty, provide constructive assistance to Venezuela to facilitate a smooth settlement to relevant issues," the ambassador said.
The Security Council held the open meeting on the latest events in Venezuela at the request of the United States.