UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked for efforts to protect children in armed conflict through the settlement of conflicts.

The fundamental approach to protecting children from the harm of armed conflict is to stop and resolve armed conflicts, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Disputes should be resolved through equal dialogue and negotiation, and the use or threat of use of force must be avoided. More attention should be paid to conflict prevention and the promotion of peace processes, Zhang told the Security Council, which held a briefing on children and armed conflict to coincide with the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

In this regard, the special needs of children should be fully taken into account so as to ensure that children are free from the harm of conflict, and that their rights, including the right to education, are safeguarded, he said.

The Security Council should earnestly discharge its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and stay committed to facilitating political settlement of conflicts through mediation, said Zhang.

Meanwhile, countries in conflict should assume the primary responsibility for protecting children in armed conflict. All parties to conflict should prohibit the recruitment and use of child soldiers, said the Chinese ambassador.