Chinese ambassador urges political solution to Syria crisis

DAMASCUS - The Chinese ambassador to Syria Zhang Xun met Wednesday with the visiting UN-AU joint envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and they stressed the urgent need for a political solution to Syria's 22-months crisis.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Brahimi Wednesday, Zhang said "we have agreed that the situation in Syria is very dangerous and there is an urgent need for political solution."

He called on all international parties to unify efforts to bring the Syrian crisis to a close via a political process. He stressed that "China has always called for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and we will continue coordination and support to Brahimi's mission."

Brahimi arrived in Syria on Sunday for a week-long visit with the aim to discuss the development of the Syrian crisis with Syrian officials and opposition figures.

After meeting with President Assad on Monday, Brahimi said he discussed the steps that he thought would work to solve the crisis.

Local media said Brahimi's new plan focuses on a transitional government in Syria that would combine representatives of the opposition and the regime. But the new plan left a vague role to Assad.