Spotlight: China's envoy calls for unity in UN Security Council on Syrian issue

The UN Security Council should remain united to reach consensus and form resultant force on ending crisis in Syria, said a Chinese envoy during his latest trip to Damascus.

Responding to China's recent veto on the draft resolution relating to situation in Syria's northern city Aleppo, Xie Xiaoyan, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on Syrian issue, said that the draft resolution without full consultation was not conducive in improving the situation in Syria.

Xie called for unity in the Security Council as the Syrian crisis entered into a crucial and sensitive stage, and countries concerned should avoid creating disputes and complicating the issue.

China and Russia at the Security Council voted against a draft resolution proposed by the several countries to establish a truce in Aleppo without the evacuation of rebels from that key area.

Syria's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem expressed in talks with Xie his gratitude for China and Russia for the veto, as the draft resolution did not stipulate the exit of militants from the eastern part of the city.

"The double veto by Russia and China is an attempt to thwart the western countries' goal to offer the rebels in eastern Aleppo a chance to regroup and empower themselves," said Hmaidi Abdullah, a Syrian political analyst.

Another analyst, Taleb Ibrahim, said that the vetoed resolution will also distract the army from advancing further into the rebel-held areas.

The draft resolution came as the Syrian army made huge progress in Aleppo. The army now has become in control of over 80 percent of the rebel-held part east of Aleppo city, as part of a major campaign aiming to drive out the rebels from the city.

Several truces have previously taken place, but quickly failed to hold on or bring in any solution. Both the government and the rebels traded barbs on who is behind the faltering truces.

Xie started his second visit to Damascus as China's special envoy Wednesday, holding talks with al-Moallem, and Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar as well as representatives from the opposition during his two-day visit.

The envoy stressed in different occasions during his visit that China will continue to play a constructive role in helping Syria recover peace and stability at an early date.

He noted that the Syrian situation is still "very complicated," calling on related parties to maintain patience to find a solution.

Xie, former ambassador to Iran and Ethiopia as well as representative to the African Union, was appointed by the Chinese government in March, 2016 with the aim of better promoting dialogue, contributing Chinese wisdom and communicating with other parties to facilitate a proper solution. Endit