China welcomes Geneva II conference on Syria

BUCHAREST - China welcomes the second Geneva conference on the Syrian crisis slated for January 22 and hopes it can achieve results, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday.

The conference should be aimed to search for a political solution to the crisis and define the way of political transition, said Wang, who is accompanying Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on an official visit to Romania.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced Monday the date for the Geneva II meeting that will bring the Syrian government and opposition to the negotiating table for the first time since the outbreak of the country's internal conflict.

All sides in Syria should enhance communication, remove existing obstacles, build mutual trust and seek consensus, while the international community needs to keep showing their constructive support, said the Chinese top diplomat.

For the meeting to bear fruit, China is willing to continue making its contribution, Wang noted.

Beijing has been maintaining contact with all sides in Syria, encouraging them to commit themselves to a political solution to the protracted crisis and joining the Geneva II talks with a positive and constructive attitude, Wang said.

Given the complexity of the crisis, Wang said, the Geneva meeting will be a process, and the priority now is offering a negotiating platform for all sides involved.

China pays close attention to the humanitarian situation in Syria, and has provided Syrians in and outside the country with aid via different channels, Wang said, pledging Beijing's continuous effort in that regard.

China supports the UN's coordination of international efforts in offering humanitarian aid to Syrians. But such measures merely ease temporary pains, while the humanitarian situation in Syria improves at root only after a comprehensive and complete settlement of the crisis is reached, Wang said.