China on Thursday called for greater efforts to avoid more civilian casualties in Libya and urged all parties concerned to immediately observe a ceasefire in the North African country.

The statement came as Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was speaking at the closed consultations of the UN Security Council on Libya, which kicked off on Thursday afternoon.

"The relevant Security Council resolution is aimed at the humanitarian protection, rather than creating more civilian casualties and a bigger humanitarian catastrophe," Li said, referring to Resolution 1973, which authorized a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians in the North African nation.

China, together with other four Council members, abstained from voting on the draft resolution on March 17.X Two days later, the U.S.-led international coalition launched military strikes on Libya, which have so far reportedly left almost 100 civilians dead.

"We call upon all parties concerned to cease fire immediately in order to avoid the escalation of the conflict and further worsening of the already intensified situation in the region," Li said.

China maintains the respect of Libya's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, he said.

"China attaches great importance to and respect the stance of African and Arabian countries" on Libya, he said. "The current Libyan crisis should be solved through peaceful means such as dialogue and negotiation."

"The affairs and future of Libya should be decided by Libyans themselves," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy also voiced his support to the efforts by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the African Union to promote a peaceful settlement to the current crisis in Libya. It is hoped that such efforts can lead to positive results at an early date, he said.

The March 25 high-level meeting of the African Union offers an important opportunity for the political settlement to the Libyan problem, he said, referring to the meeting to be held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

"It is our hope that the United Nations and the African Union can work closely to ensure a successful conclusion of the meeting," he said.

Li, who also holds the rotating Council presidency for March, chaired an open Council meeting to be briefed by the UN secretary-general on the current situation in Libya and the week-long implementation of Resolution 1973.

Li also chaired the closed consultations, which, following the open Council session, lasted some two hours at the UN headquarters in New York.

During the closed consultations, China, a permanent member of the Security Council, and India, South Africa, Brazil, non-permanent Council members and other Council members from Africa voiced their grave concerns at the possible civilian casualties during the U.S.-led military actions against Libya.

Russia, another permanent Council member, said that the key lies in an immediate ceasefire in Libya.

Resolution 1973 "demands the immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of civilians."