China expresses hope for Syria talks

BEIJING - China on Monday reiterated its call for all parties related with the Syrian violence to "actively" participate in the Geneva II conference after the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) threatened to withdraw.

"We are calling on all sides involved with the Syria issue to actively participate in the Geneva II, and promise to implement the Geneva Communique in an all-round, balanced and effective way, " said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeman Hong Lei at a regular press briefing.

He added that China attaches high importance to the role of countries in the region and supports them in their push for a political solution of the Syrian conflict.

The SNC, Syria's main opposition group in exile, said that it will suspend its participation in the Geneva II conference unless the UN rescinds its invitation for Iran to participate in the conference.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday that he had invited Iran to attend the Syria peace conference, or "Geneva II," scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Wednesday.

"A political solution is the only practical way of solving the Syrian issue. All parties should express their appeals through dialogue and negotiation," Hong said.

The Geneva Communique was adopted in June 2012 by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and four Middle East countries. It called for the establishment of a transitional governing body in Syria to lead the country out of a protracted conflict that broke out in March 2011.