Chinese envoy urges Bosnia and Herzegovina to step up efforts in nation-building

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations Thursday called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue to consolidate the achievements in nation-building.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina has in general maintained stability and its economy is turning for the better," said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative, noting that China welcomes the positive developments including those in the area of political process and the rule of law.

Wu told a UN Security Council meeting that China respects the independence, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and believes that the nation should autonomously choose its own development path and foreign policy.

"China hopes that the various ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to actively consolidate the achievements in its nation-building and fully implement Dayton peace accord, to make even more progress in all areas," Wu said.

Dayton Peace Agreement was signed in Paris in 1995 to end three-and-a-half years of war in the Balkans. It creates two entities of roughly equal size, one for Bosnian Muslims and Croats, the other for Serbs.

The envoy noted that maintaining peace, stability and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina benefits regional countries in the Balkans and beyond, stressing that "the international community should commit to promoting unity of all ethnic groups and harmonious development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so as to help the nation to achieve sustainable development and long-term peace and stability."

China is ready to join the international community in its ongoing efforts to make its due contribution to the lasting peace, stability and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he added. Endit