UNITED NATIONS, March 3 -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called on all parties involved in the tense situation in Ukraine to seek a political solution to their disputes through dialogue and negotiations.

"China is deeply concerned about the current situation in Ukraine," Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, said at the third emergency Security Council meeting in four days on Ukraine.

"We condemn the recent extreme and violent acts there and have been urging the relevant parties in Ukraine to resolve their internal disputes peacefully within the legal framework so as to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic communities in Ukraine and restore normal social order at an early date," he said.

Liu emphasized that China consistently stands for the principle of non-interference in any country's internal affairs and respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"There are reasons for why the situation in Ukraine is what it is today," he noted, adding that China will follow the development of the situation closely.

China calls on relevant parties to "seek a political resolution of their differences through dialogue and negotiation based on respect for international law and norms governing international relations in order to uphold regional peace and stability," Liu said.