China urges Syria to attend Geneva with no conditions

UNITED NATIONS -- China on Tuesday called on all Syrian parties to participate in the political process proactively and attend the Geneva II conference without any preconditions.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the call at a General Assembly meeting on the Middle East.

China has always maintained that political settlement is the only solution to the question of Syria, Liu said, adding "the Syrian government and opposition parties should seek political settlement through direct talks and start a political process led by the Syrian people."

The Geneva II conference on Syria has been slated for January 22 next year. "China believes that this is an important progress in implementing Security Council Resolution 2118 and in pushing forward the solution of the Syrian issue," he said, stressing that China "welcomes and supports" the development.

"We hope that the parties concerned will lose no time in preparing for the conference ...so as to push forward positive development of the conference," said Liu.

The Geneva II conference is aimed at fully implementing the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012, including the establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers.

China will maintain close coordination and communication with all the parties concerned so as to play a positive and constructive role for the comprehensive, long-term and proper solution of the Syrian issue, Liu said.

"China will continue to join the international community to make unremitting efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the Middle East," he said.  

The continued conflict between the Syrian government and opposition groups seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad, which began in March 2011, have killed more than 100,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes within Syria and into neighboring countries.

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