File photo: CGTN

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday held internal consultations and exchanged views over the situation in northeast Syria after Turkey's military operation there.

After reaching consensus among the parties, Jerry Matjila, president of the Security Council and South Africa's permanent representative to the UN, said the Council members expressed deep concerns over the risks of the dispersion of terrorists from UN-designated groups, including the Islamic State(IS), and the risk of a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Ambassador Zhang Jun, permanent representative of China to the United Nations, told reporters after the meeting that Turkey's unilateral military operation has made the situation in northeast Syria more complex and fragile and will make the counter-terrorism situation in Syria more severe.

It could result in dispersion of terrorists and an opportunity for the IS to stage a comeback, posing a threat to peace and security in Syria, the Middle East and even the wider world, Zhang said.

China is greatly concerned, Zhang said, noting that China opposes the use of force in international relations. Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity should be respected and safeguarded, he added.

"Political settlement is the only way out and military means will lead to nowhere," Zhang said. He urged all parties to observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and solve problems through political and diplomatic means under the framework of international law.

He called on Turkey to stop military operation and return to the right track of political settlement. "China urges Turkey to take up its responsibility and work with other countries to jointly fight terrorism," he said.

Parties in Syria recently agreed on establishing a constitutional committee recently, Zhang said, adding that China supports the UN's continued efforts of mediation to ensure the implementation of resolution 2254 and push for a political settlement that accommodates the concerns of all parties.