China says int'l actions should help ease Syrian tension

China said on Monday that international actions on Syria should be conducive to defusing the current tension and promoting a political resolution to the issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the comment at a regular press conference.

At a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers in the Qatari capital of Doha on Saturday, the 22-member organization called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to set a timetable for the implementation of UN-Arab League Joint Envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

At the meeting, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani called on the UNSC to put Annan's plan under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, a measure that could authorize the use of force.

Liu said the international community should improve support to Annan's mediation efforts and require all parties in Syria to immediately and comprehensively carry out the UNSC's resolutions as well as Annan's advice, and cooperate with UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

He expressed the hope that the international community could promote a ceasefire in Syria and help to ensure the security of civilians in the country.

On Friday, 41 of the 47-member UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva backed a call urging an investigation by the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, set up by the council last year to gather evidence on alleged rights abuses.

Russia, China and Cuba voted against the resolution, which they said was "unbalanced," as it presumed the guilt of the Syrian government for the massacre in the Houla area.

When asked about the reason for China's veto of the resolution, Liu said China's permanent representative of the Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva Liu Zhenmin had clearly stated China's stance on Friday.

He said China would continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the Syrian crisis.

China supports a fair and comprehensive UN investigation into the massacre in the Houla region and hopes the killers will be brought to justice, Liu said.