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China supports early resumption of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva

Xinhua, March 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) - China said it supports the intra-Syrian talks to resume in Geneva as early as possible and called for a political solution that takes into account the reasonable concerns of relevant parties, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said on Monday that the cessation of hostilities reached by the Syrian government and opposition forces is basically holding.

China welcomed effective implementation of the ceasefire agreement by the concerned parties, spokesperson Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing.

Hong said China hopes relevant parties can implement the UN Security Council 2254 Resolution and the joint communique of the fourth foreign ministers'meeting of the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) in February in Munich to keep the momentum of the ceasefire and cessation of violence.

"We hope the international community, especially countries in the region, will play a positive and constructive role," Hong said.

Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria, said he plans for the peace talks involving various parties in Syria to resume on March 7 in Geneva if the ceasefire holds. The Geneva talks on the Syrian crisis collapsed earlier in February.

A political settlement is the fundamental and only solution to the Syrian issue, Hong said, adding that China always believes that violence won't lead to an outcome, while negotiation will give people hope.

China called on all parties in Syria to meet each other halfway and seek common ground while narrowing their differences, Hong said.

"China is willing to work with the international community to play its due role in promoting a political settlement for the Syrian issue," Hong said. Endi