China called for calmness and restraint in the Ukraine crisis and preventing further escalation of the situation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

China urged all parties involved in the crisis to keep in mind of the fundamental interests of all ethnic communities in Ukraine and interests of regional peace and stability, Wang told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

"The priority now is to exercise calmness and restraint and prevent further escalation of the situation," he said.

"It is regrettable that the situation in Ukraine has come to what it is today, yet it is not by accident that the situation has reached this point," said Wang, adding that there is a complex history behind it as well as conflicting interests.

"The more complex the problem, the more necessary for it to be handled in a prudent way," he added.

"China follows a just and objective position on the issue of Ukraine. We have stated our position on multiple occasions," he said.

The parties concerned should carry out dialogue and consultation to put the issue on the track of a political settlement, he said.

"China is in communication with various parties and we will play China's constructive role in bringing about a political settlement of the Ukraine issue," he said.

Tensions in Crimea, heavily populated by ethnic Russians and pro-Russian Ukrainians, flared up last week following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The situation in Ukraine intensified on Thursday as the parliament of Crimea, an autonomous republic, voted to join Russia and decided to hold a referendum on the territory's future status on March 16, two weeks earlier than previous plan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2014)