China urges early adoption of UN resolution on Syria

UNITED NATIONS - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria's chemical weapons as soon as possible, calling for an expedited progress to bring a political resolution to the Syria crisis.

"The recent use of chemical weapons has met universal condemnation," Wang said at the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly which kicked off on Tuesday.

Highlights of FM's speech at UN:  China to firmly fulfill due int'l responsibilities, obligations  China to advance reform, opening up, sustainable development  China to stick to peaceful development  China calls for greater voice of developing countries in global governance system China urges early adoption of UN resolution on Syria's chemical weapons

"China firmly opposes the use of chemical weapons," he said. " We hope to see an early adoption of a UN Security Council resolution to support the OPCW (the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) in launching the verification and destruction of chemical weapons."

The Chinese foreign minister said China stands ready to make financial contributions to the OPCW and to send experts for the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.

"China calls for an immediate end to hostilities and violence in Syria so as to create necessary conditions for the verification and destruction of chemical weapons," Wang said. "We call for the early opening of the Geneva II conference and faster progress in a political resolution of the Syrian issue."

Noting that Beijing seeks no self gains in Syria, he said China respects the aspirations and choice of the Syrian people and will continue its assistance to the Syrian people, including Syrian refugees outside the country.

According to Wang, China has recently been implementing emergency humanitarian material aid worth 15 million RMB (2.45 million U.S. dollars) for Jordan, and has contributed 24 million RMB (3.92 million dollars) to the World Food Program and the World Health Organization for the displaced people within Syria and Syrian refugees in Lebanon respectively.