New York (dpa) – China on Wednesday voiced support Wednesday for international efforts to settle the year-old conflict in Syria as Western powers discussed a new draft resolution providing relief assistance to Syrians caught in the violence. Xinhua News Agency said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had discussed by telephone the situation in Syria with Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria. Yang called for urgently ending the conflicts in Syria and for political dialogue and reform to take place. But there was no indication as to whether China would support the French-proposed draft under discussion to bring emergency relief to the Syrians in need. China and Russia on February 4 vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the violence and calling for a political transition to a multi-party system in Syria. “The pressing task now is for all sides to cease violence in the Syrian conflict, and to launch as soon as possible inclusive political dialogue and together deliberate on a reform plan,” Yang said in the conversation with al-Arabi. “The international community should create conditions for this, and extend humanitarian aid to Syria,” Yang said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/QE0FF Tags: China, Damascus, Violence Section: East Asia, Latest News, Syria
