Beijing supports Russian initiative on Arms

China on Tuesday voiced its support for Russia's proposal to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control, earmarking them for later destruction, and vowed to continue its efforts to facilitate a political solution.

"As long as the suggestion is conducive to easing current tensions in Syria, to solving the current issue politically and to maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region, the international community should give positive consideration to it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, at a daily news conference in Beijing.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the suggestion on Monday when he met his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in Moscow. Syria's top diplomat welcomed the Russian move and accepted it.

In another development, a six-member Syrian opposition delegation from the "All-Nation Union for Dialogue" began a visit to China on Tuesday at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry were scheduled to meet on Tuesday with a visiting delegation of six members of the Syrian opposition and "exchange views with them on the situation", Hong added. "A political settlement is the only solution for the Syria issue, especially in current circumstances," he said.

"China will continue to work with all parties d in an active and balanced way to push for a political solution, and receiving the opposition delegation is part of the efforts," he added.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/11/2013 page12)