New resolution conducive to maintain political momentum in Syria peace process

US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks to the media next to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura during a news conference at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, December 18, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The new council resolution also urges the United Nations - the most representative and authoritative body in the world - to play a bigger role in the process.

The new resolution requests UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, through his good offices and the efforts of his special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, "to convene representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition to engage in formal negotiations on a political transition process on an urgent basis."

Ever since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, the United Nations has been demanding a political solution to the crisis.

The current positive political momentum is not easy to come by and the international community should seize the chance to work together toward lasting peace in Syria.

Apart from Geneva and Vienna, efforts have also been made over the past few days by relevant parties in Cairo, Riyadh and Moscow to seek a lasting political solution to the Syrian problem.

To be frank, serious differences still exist among relevant parties on issues such as which opposition groups should be defined as terrorist groups and which opposition groups should be treated as future negotiation partners.

At present, the international community is confronting the two most important and pressing issues - the launching of the peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition and the implementing of the UN-monitored truce in the country.

Just as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is in New York to attend the Syria international talks and subsequent UN Security Council meeting on Syria, told reporters here "Without peace talks, the ceasefire cannot be sustained. Without a ceasefire, the peace talks cannot continue to produce results."

"We must realize the political process is going to go backward if we are not making progress," Wang added.