China speaks positively of Geneva meeting on Syria

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Saturday that the outcome of the Action Group on Syria ministerial meeting has great significance for a political settlement of the Syrian issue.

He told reporters after ministers concluded a meeting all day long that the participating parties agreed to continue their support for the mediation of UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan.

They pledged efforts to back the implementation of his six-point proposal and relevant Security Council resolutions in a bid to establish a transitional governing body in Syria, and set up the Action Group on Syria to coordinate follow-up activities of the international community.

The parties also reiterated their respect for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and the need for a political transition to be led by the Syrian people.

"China speaks positively of the above-mentioned outcome," he said.

The final Communique of the meeting mentioned the establishment of a transitional governing body which can establish a neutral environment in which the transition can take place.

It could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent, according to the Communique.

Yang stressed that the mentioning of the "transitional governing body" is designed to provide constructive assistance to a political transition process in Syria, encourage all parties in Syria to swiftly launch an inclusive political dialogue so as to seek an appropriate solution to the ongoing crisis.

"I wish to emphasize here that the political transition process in Syria should be led by the Syrian people and truly owned by the people of Syria. As for the specific issues as the composition of the 'transitional governing body' and its operation, they should be agreed on the basis of a dialogue among Syrian government and other relevant parties of Syria."

He said that China will continue to take a constructive part in the activities of the Action Group, maintain communication and coordination with relevant parties of the international community, work on the Syrian government and the opposition in an active and balanced manner, and make unremitting efforts to find a just, peaceful and appropriate solution to the Syrian issue at an early date.