UNITED NATIONS - Given that today's world is plagued with rampant unilateralism, the international community must remain clear-headed, strengthen unity and cooperation, and firmly stop such unlawful practices, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Friday.

"History has proven that unilateral coercive measures are one of the culprits for international turbulence and disarray in world order," Fu said, while delivering a joint statement at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on behalf of a cross-regional group of 28 UN member states.

Noting that developing countries and their populations continue to fall victim to such measures, the ambassador said the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores the equal enjoyment by all states of the development dividends. It strongly urges states to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

"Regrettably, despite the global call to urgently lift unilateral coercive measures, the imposition of these illegal measures continues to cause devastating, sometimes even life-threatening consequences, to targeted countries and their peoples," he said.

ALSO READ: US should not abuse veto at UN Security Council, says Chinese envoy

Unilateral coercive measures, coupled with secondary sanctions and over-compliance, exacerbate existing humanitarian and economic challenges, gravely affect the stability of the global production and supply chains, as well as food, energy, and financial security, Fu said.

In addition, they seriously undermine the world economic order and efforts to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Fu said.

Moreover, these measures severely violate basic human rights, including the right to life, health, development, and education, and impede the ability of targeted countries to realize these rights, he said.

"We are also concerned that unilateral coercive measures and over-compliance have limited the ability of affected countries to access and acquire foreign investment and technologies, and hinder international cooperation in culture, arts, sports, travel, people-to-people exchanges, and transports, including civil aviation," said the ambassador.

He reaffirmed opposition to unilateral measures and called on some Western countries to honor their commitments to upholding the UN Charter and international law, and immediately, unconditionally, and completely lift all unilateral coercive measures.

Fu called upon UN member states, the UN itself, and other international organizations to jointly oppose such unlawful practices and help targeted countries mitigate their plight.

READ MORE: Chinese envoy calls for multilateralism for sake of global peace, security

"The current circumstance calls for solidarity and unity rather than confrontation and division to address global challenges and promote and protect human rights for all," Fu said.