UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China supports continued efforts of the international community to promote the protection of children in armed conflict, a Chinese envoy said here on Friday.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the statement at an open debate of the Security Council on "children and armed conflict."

"China condemns all violations against children in situations of armed conflict, urging all parties to armed conflict to comply strictly with the obligations applicable to them under international law for the protection of children in armed conflict, " Liu said.

He stressed that governments concerned bear the primary responsibility for protecting children in armed conflicts. "The key to the implementation of Council resolutions on the protection of children lies in the active support and cooperation on the part of the governments concerned."

Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy said, various United Nations agencies need to continue promoting the protection of children in armed conflict in accordance with their mandates and bringing into full play their respective expertise and strengths.

"The Security Council should effectively fulfill its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, reducing and curbing conflicts through good offices, negotiations and mediations so as to create a safe environment for the growth of children," he said.

Liu also said China welcomes the "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign, launched Thursday by Leila Zerrougui, UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon's special representative for children and armed conflict, and the UN Children's Fund, to end the recruitment and use of children by government armed forces in conflict by 2016.

The envoy further underlined that, to protect children in armed conflicts, the international community should address both symptoms and the root causes.

"The international community should take the protection of children as an integral part of its overall efforts in addressing conflicts and give it full attention in political negotiations and peace agreements," Liu said.

"In promoting post-conflict reconstruction and implementing peace-building strategies, the international community should take as priorities the return of children to school and reintegration into society, strengthen the institution building of countries concerned in terms of protecting children, provide adequate resource, increase development assistance, and actively support countries concerned in their efforts to eliminate poverty, realize universal education and protect children's rights, so as to eliminate the root causes of conflicts," he added.