BEIJING - China welcomed an Arab League plan aimed at ending a violent crackdown on protesters in Syria on Thursday, calling it an important step towards speeding up Damascus's promises of reform. The Arab League said on Wednesday the Syrian government had approved an Arab League plan for dialogue with the opposition and steps to end seven months of bloodshed. Syria agreed to a halt to violence, the release of prisoners, removal of the military presence from cities and residential areas and allowing the Arab League and media access to report. "We believe this marks an important step towards easing the situation in Syria and the early launching of an inclusive political process with broad participation from all parties in Syria," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. "We hope all parties in Syria can make practical efforts to stop violence and create conditions to solve the issue through dialogue and consultation." China's Middle East envoy, Wu Sike, called on Syria on Sunday to speed up reforms, saying the situation was dangerous and the bloodshed could not continue. China has played a low-key role in the turmoil that has swept the Middle East and North Africa, but it has also moved swiftly to normalise ties with governments which have been overthrown by popular revolts, such as in Libya. China, along with Russia, has resisted a Western push for a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian government's crackdown on pro-reform protests that began over half a year ago.
