China supports Annan's Syria mediation efforts

Chinese ambassador to the UN Li Baodong said Friday that China supports Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan's mediation efforts concerning the Syrian crisis, calling upon the international community to support Annan's efforts and create conditions for his mediation.

Chinese ambassador to the UN Li Baodong speak to media on March 16. [Xinhua]

Li made the remarks after attending the Security Council informal consultation and hearing Annan's briefing via video-link from Geneva.

Li said the Security Council had an in-depth exchange of views with Annan on the situation in Syria.

"Mr. Annan highly appreciated China's position on Syria and said he valued China's constructive role in addressing the Syrian issue. He also expressed his willingness to visit China at an early date," Li said.

Li said China supports Annan's recent visit to Syria. "We attach great importance to and welcome his proposals on political settlement of the Syrian issue," he said.

"We call upon the international community to support Mr. Annan' s efforts, and create conditions for his mediation," he added.

The ambassador said China hopes that all relevant parties in Syria will cooperate with and support Annan's mediation efforts, stop violence immediately, show political will and flexibility, and launch the process of political dialogue at an early date.

Annan met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad twice during his visit to Damascus on March 10 and 11. He also met Syrian opposition leaders in and outside the Middle East country.

"I think we need to deal with the Syrian situation very carefully," Annan told reporters in Geneva after his briefing at the Security Council.

Annan said the killing in Syria must be stopped immediately for the sake of the Syrian people and the mankind.