China calls for efforts to seek political solution to bring early end to Syrian conflict

A senior Chinese diplomat on Sunday voiced his deep concern at the recent military escalation in some areas in Syria, and called upon the international community to work harder to help all Syrian parties in their efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement as he was speaking at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria, which was held at the request of the United States, Britain and France following the renewed fighting in the north Syrian city of Aleppo.

The conflict in relevant areas of Syria has recently escalated and caused a heavy civilian casualty, and a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked, Liu noted, adding that China expressed its deep concerns at the grave situation on the ground.

The Syrian government force was attacked by airstrikes and suffered heavy casualties, for which China expressed regret, he said.

"We hope that all the concerned parties will enhance their coordination and prevent similar incidents from happening again," he said.

The Syrian conflict has been lingering on for about five years, China has deep sympathy for the suffering of the Syrian people, he said. "This situation cannot be allowed to continue anymore."

"The priority now is that all the parties in Syria must effectively implement the Security Council resolutions concerning the issue of Syria," Liu said. "The international community should work simultaneously on the tracks of ceasefire, political negotiation, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism cooperation in order to promote the solution of the Syrian question."

Meanwhile, he said, China hopes that the agreement reached by Russia and the United States regarding the cessation of hostilities among all Syrian parties will be effectively implemented so as to create opportunities for improving the situation on the ground.

"The international community should work in collaboration to urge all parties in Syria to effectively implement the agreement so as to resume the ceasefire," he said.

"The more complex the situation in Syria, the more important it is to uphold the general direction of political solution, give full play to the role of the United Nations as the main channel of the mediation, continue to support the Special Envoy de Mistura in his efforts to re-launch the Geneva Talks as soon as possible, and press ahead the Syrian-own and Syrian-led process to achievement arrangements that accommodate all interests."

Regional countries should play a positive role in promoting the political settlement of the Syrian question, he said.

Furthermore, the senior Chinese diplomat urged all the parties in Syria to "provide full humanitarian access and ensure that all the humanitarian supplies can be delivered in a timely and safe manner."

The international community should scale up humanitarian assistance to Syria in a bid to alleviate the humanitarian situation on the ground and provide assistance to neighboring countries to help them properly accommodate refugees, he said.

"Counter-terrorism is a very important component of the solution to the Syrian problem," he said. "The Syrian conflict has led to the rise and spread of terrorism, without rooting out terrorism, there will be no peace for Syrian people, and there will be no security for regional countries."

"The international community should work with resolve to combat all the terrorist force listed by the Security Council, including the Islamic State, he said. "In the process of counter-terrorism cooperation, we must enhance the intelligence sharing, and prevent social media from spreading extremist ideology and cut off the flow of terrorists and their financial channels."

"China has been making unremitting efforts to promote political solution to the Syrian problem, and we have made extensive efforts to push all Syrian parties to end the conflict as soon as possible and to achieve a comprehensive political solution," he said.

"China stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting a full, just and appropriate settlement of the Syrian problem," he added. Enditem