Off the wire
• Research report profiles Chinese middle class in metropolis  • SPP has separate office for prosecuting juvenile suspects  • 1st LD Writethru: At least 12 Afghans injured in Hindukush region quake  • Urgent: At least 12 Afghans injured as quake hits Hindukush region  • Tibet insures urban residents against serious illness  • 1st LD Writethru: About 50 migrant workers missing in renewed landslide in Myanmar  • Cold front to disperse heavy smog  • Messi leads Marca's top 10 players of 2015, Ronaldo ranked 8th  • ADO express confidence in Chinese owner  • Albania to boost lending in agriculture  
You are here: 　 Home

Interview: China plays important role in promoting political settlement of Syria crisis: Syria FM

Xinhua, December 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

China has played an important role in promoting a political settlement of the Syria crisis, visiting Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said here Friday, hoping to establish regional and international anti-terrorism alliances.

Syria and China have a similar stance on anti-terrorism and both back a political settlement of the Syria crisis, he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, saying his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday was fruitful and constructive.

Both countries see the necessity of implementing related UN Security Council resolutions on eradicating the terrorism roots, which is considered a fundamental factor to realize progress in solving the Syria crisis politically, the foreign minister said.

He also praised China's efforts in producing Resolution 2253 (2015) and Resolution 2254 in the United Nations, describing them as an "effective contribution" from the permanent UN Security Council member.

Last week, the council unanimously adopted the two resolutions, with the former expanding and strengthening the Al-Qaida sanctions framework to include a focus on the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant and the latter endorsing an international roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition to end the country's conflict, which calls for Syrian peace talks to begin in early January.

"Terrorism is a cause of the Syria crisis, fighting terrorism and a political solution should be carried out at the same time," he said, calling to form a regional and international anti-terrorism alliance to eliminate terrorism and restore stability in the Middle East region.

He said the Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria are five more times efficient than the U.S.-led international operations.

Regarding the incident in which a Russian plane was downed by the Turkish army, he said "the incident will not complicate the Syrian situation, but enhance our determination to fight against terrorism."

On the Syrian refugee crisis, the Syrian foreign minister said "the first reason is Europe's wrong policies toward the Syria crisis, and the second is Turkey that allows easy transfer through some companies in the country." Endi