UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 12 -- China supports the United Nation's efforts to strengthen protection of civilians in armed conflicts, a Chinese UN envoy said Wednesday at the UN Security Council open debate, encouraging more in-depth discussion and constructive results on the issue.

"As the nature and characteristics of armed conflict evolved, civilians in some countries and regions continued to suffer from the impact of armed conflict. The protection of civilians remains an arduous task for the international community," said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN.

Liu said China supports holding in-depth discussion at the Security Council on the challenges of the protection of civilians in armed conflict and make pragmatic and effective efforts to achieve constructive results in this field.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment in a presidential statement Wednesday regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict, urging parties involved to meet the basic needs of people affected.

Liu held that all parties to the armed conflict must comply with their obligation to protect civilians, stressing that "the primary responsibility in protecting innocent civilians in armed conflict and wars lies with national governments."

In addressing violation against human rights and international humanitarian law, he said, priority should be given to the national judicial institutions, which are the "main channels".

"In strengthening the protection of civilians in armed conflict, it is necessary to start from preventing and settling the conflict, " said Liu, adding that the protection of civilians must be a part of the political process in the resolution of the conflict.

The Security Council must make vigorous efforts in preventive diplomacy to prevent and contain conflict and promote political solutions so as to achieve lasting peace as soon as possible and reduce the impact of conflict on civilians, he stressed.

On UN peacekeeping operations, Liu said, their mandate to protect civilians is one of the important measures to help countries concerned better protect civilians, though it cannot substitute responsibility and obligation to protect civilians by state governments and parties to the conflict.

Liu also held that all parties to a conflict must ensure timely access of affected civilians to humanitarian relief, calling it "a major premise to the improvement of the humanitarian situations in conflict areas and protection of civilians."

This year marked the 15th anniversary of the Security Council's adoption of Resolution 1265 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In the past 15 years, the Council adopted multiple resolutions and presidential statements and laid down the legal framework in the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The protection of civilians has also become an integral part of UN peacekeeping operations.