"We are in favor of resolving the conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.
"No one wants to see a third world war," he said, adding that "it is essential that we support the process of promoting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine."
Asked to comment on a recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the threat of a Third World War, the Chinese official said the armed conflict in Ukraine should not be allowed to continue.
He stressed the need to avoid negative consequences, which could result in the Ukrainian conflict affecting not only Europe but the whole world.
"We hope that all interested parties will show composure and prevent the escalation," the Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded.