UNITED NATIONS, March 26 -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the international community to help post- conflict countries address root causes of clashes, particularly economic and social underdevelopment.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).

"To speed up economic recovery and development is the basis for peacebuilding," Liu told the UNGA. "Economic and social underdevelopment is the root cause of conflict."

He noted that many post-conflict countries and regions face multiple challenges in economic and infrastructure reconstruction, poverty elimination, employment and social security.

"The international community should therefore focus on mobilizing resources and honor its commitment of assistance in a timely fashion, so as to help those countries achieve speedy economic recovery and reconstruction," Liu said.

Only when people can enjoy the "peace dividend" will there be a solid basis for the peace process as well as for the post-conflict peacebuilding, Liu reckoned.

He also underlined that post-conflict countries bear the primary responsibility for their own peacebuilding.

"All our histories are different; all our specific circumstances are different," Liu said. "Therefore, the international community should respect the ownership and the will of the countries concerned, and help them draw up their integrated peacebuilding strategy based on their own conditions."

The Chinese diplomat also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts, adding that the United Nations and the PBC should continue to play a coordinative role in such efforts.

"The United Nations should seek to establish a stable relationship, or coordination, with other international partners. At the same time, it is important to bring into play the unique advantages of regional organizations, including the African Union, and subregional organizations in that respect," Liu said. " Together with the international community, China is willing to continue playing a positive role in helping post-conflict countries in achieving durable peace and sustainable development."

Established by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly in 2005, the PBC is an inter-government advisory body, tasked with recommending strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery efforts throughout the world.