CPC official urges stop to Syria violence

Li Jinjun (2nd R), vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, talks with Véronique De Keyser(2nd L), vice-president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament, at a press breakfast after the third China-EU High Level Political Parties Forum in Brussels, May 31, 2012.

Brussels – China urges all parties in Syria to stop the violence and let the people decide their own future, a senior official from the Communist Party of China said.

Li Jinjun, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said both China and EU believe that the Syrian government should answer the call of reform by its people.

Li made the statement during the third China-EU High Level Political Parties Forum, which ran from May 29 to 31 in Brussels. He said China continues to support the negotiation efforts of Kofi Annan, the UN and Arab League special envoy for Syria.

"China adheres to the non-interference principle, a cornerstone of China's foreign policy, in dealing with the Syria crisis. China is against a solution that is motivated by regime change or determined by other countries' likes or dislikes," Li said.

Syrian people should make their own choice while national sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected by the international community, Li added.

The forum aims to offer a platform for leaders of CPC and EU political parties to exchange ideas on a broad range of issues and improve mutual understanding. It takes turns being held in China and Europe. This year’s theme was how can China and EU cooperate to meet common challenges.