Chinese diplomat hightlights role of UN in political solutions for Syria

GENEVA - A senior Chinese diplomat on Wednesday welcomed the upcoming peace talks on Syria in Geneva and stressed the role of the United Nations in the mediation to end the lasting conflict in the war-torn country.

The Chinese government's Special Envoy on Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, on Wednesday met with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. They exchanged views on the forthcoming intra-Syria talks and the Syrian political process.

"The resumption of the peace talks on Syria should strictly follow the requirements of the UN Security Council resolution 2254, and put efforts on promoting mutual trust so as to achieve progresses as soon as possible," Xie said.

He told the UN envoy that China hopes the representatives of the Syrian opposition team will include more parties and have a broad representation, and China is willing to cooperate closely with the relevant parties of the international community for a political solution in Syria.

De Mistura said that the resumption of the Geneva peace talks is an important step in the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2254.

"It might not be the right time for an agreement, but it is the right time for talks," he told Xinhua after the meeting.

The UN Envoy added that China, as a permanent member of the Security Council and an important member of the International Support Group for Syria, has maintained good relations with all parties concerned, and has been vigorously playing a positive and constructive role in the Syrian peace process.

The latest round of UN-mediated peace talks on Syria is set to kick off on Feb. 23 here in Geneva.

The last time Syria's warring parties convened in Geneva was in April last year, a month which saw talks being put on hold amid a humanitarian meltdown and systemic violence in the middle east country.