A senior Chinese diplomat at the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday called on the international community to step up efforts toward substantive improvement in Syria's humanitarian situation.

The humanitarian needs in Syria have reached the highest level since the outbreak of the crisis 10 years ago, with more than 13 million people in urgent need of assistance, according to UN assessments.

The international community should make joint efforts to step up humanitarian assistance to Syria and strive for the substantive improvement of the humanitarian situation as soon as possible, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the Security Council on Wednesday.

It is important to vigorously carry out early recovery projects tailored to the needs of the Syrian people while providing emergency humanitarian assistance, Geng said.

"The international community should implement Resolution 2585 by promoting early recovery projects in water resources, health care, education, and shelter, while helping Syria fight COVID-19 so as to promote its economic and social development," he said.

Meanwhile, monitoring of the cross-border aid delivery mechanism should be strengthened and efforts should be made to promote a transition from cross-border to cross-line delivery, said Geng.

The Security Council has an obligation to step up monitoring in order to ensure that the cross-border mechanism is neutral and transparent and remains true to its humanitarian nature, he said, stressing the cross-line mechanism should be the main channel.

"China supports the World Health Organization in continuing to carry out humanitarian operations in northeastern Syria through the cross-line mechanism. The World Food Program's first cross-line delivery of humanitarian supplies from Aleppo to Idlib marks a major breakthrough in humanitarian relief operations in Syria, said Geng.

He added that we can work together to scale up the cross-line mechanism and better meet the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people.

The diplomat also cited the need to support the Syrian government in stabilizing the security situation across the country and to create conditions for humanitarian operations and the political process.

China welcomes the cease-fire agreement reached by relevant parties in Daraa in the south and supports the Syrian government in stabilizing the local situation, resettling civilians and providing relief, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)