A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for the lifting of illegal unilateral sanctions so as to improve international humanitarian work.

It is worth noting that illegal unilateral sanctions severely affect the ability of the public sector of the countries concerned to provide basic services such as education and food supply, and interfere with the private sector's regular activities in trade, investment, and business operation, and as such have become the biggest obstacle to public-private humanitarian cooperation, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"The international community should jointly urge relevant countries to immediately lift unilateral sanctions, eliminate their negative effects, and create favorable conditions for international humanitarian actions," he told a Security Council open debate on advancing public-private humanitarian partnership.

Zhang said that the humanitarian cause, as a common endeavor of all humankind, can build the greatest consensus across different civilizations.

The international community should practice true multilateralism, promote international humanitarianism, unite all actors, including the public and private sectors and civil society, step up investment, jointly tackle challenges, and continuously improve the humanitarian situation in relevant countries and regions, he said.

Zhang stressed the need to keep up the humanitarian investment.

Noting that the current global humanitarian landscape faces unprecedented difficulties and challenges, Zhang said that multinational corporations have benefited immensely from the resources and markets of developing countries and thus bear responsibility to help relevant countries out of their humanitarian predicament and make greater contributions to their people's livelihood and well-being.

Zhang called for adherence to the fundamental humanitarian principles.

Humanitarian actions should adhere to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and respect the sovereignty, laws, and customs of recipient countries, he said.

A few countries, under the pretext of democracy and human rights, have all too easily cut or even suspended humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and other countries, he said, adding that "such actions will only victimize innocent civilians, worsen the socio-economic crisis, and contravene the spirit of humanitarianism."

Zhang said there is a need to promote humanitarianism and development in an integrated manner.

China stands ready, together with the international community, to continue to actively participate in multilateral and bilateral humanitarian relief operations and continue to provide support and assistance within its capacity to countries in need, said Zhang.

(With input from Xinhua)