China's envoy calls for joint efforts to achieve real ceasefire in Syria

VIENNA - China hopes all sides could work together to achieve a real ceasefire in Syria at the upcoming International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting, China's envoy said here Tuesday.

Major world countries and regional powers are gathering in Vienna on Tuesday, trying to find a way to end the country's civil war.

"We hope all sides could together make efforts to achieve a real ceasefire and make further progress in humanitarian aid (in Syria)," Xie Xiaoyan, China's envoy to the ISSG talks, told reporters before the meeting.

"This is a critical moment. We realize the role of the ceasefire and more openness to humanitarian access. No matter how difficult these issues are, we should all realize how important it is. We should also have patience. Incremental progress will be made, and final solutions will come," he said.

The international community has been calling for a sustainable ceasefire in Syria, as peace in the country is broken sometimes.

Years of civil war in Syria have led to humanitarian disasters and many Syrians have fled to other countries and regions, triggering a refugee crisis in the European Union (EU) and the rise of the Islamic State.

The ISSG, co-chaired by Moscow and Washington, was formed in November 2015 to end the Syrian war. The EU, the Arab League, China, Iran, Turkey and the United Nations are also members of the group.