China willing to join Geneva talks on Syria

BEIJING - China is willing to actively participate in the Geneva II conference on the Syria issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday.

Hong said during a regular press briefing that China welcomes the proposal by Russia and the United States to hold the international conference .

"China supports all efforts that are helpful for a political resolution to the Syria issue," Hong said.

He said the Chinese side is ready to work with all related parties to push for a just, peaceful and proper resolution to the Syria issue as soon as possible.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem on Sunday said in Iraqi capital of Baghdad that Syria "in principle" will attend the upcoming Geneva conference aimed at ending the two-year-old Syrian crisis.

Also on Sunday, Syrian opposition said that it in principle agrees to participate in the upcoming Geneva talks.