China calls for appointment of UN Syria envoy

China on Thursday called on the United Nations to name a new Syria mediator as soon as possible and continue to advance the political settlement process to help solve the Syria crisis.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks when asked to comment on the resignation of UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at a daily press briefing.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced that he had accepted Brahimi's request to step down, adding that the resignation will be effective on May 31.

Hua said Brahimi has been committed to promoting a political resolution of the Syria issue and has played a constructive role in the process.

China appreciates Brahimi's work and has been supporting his mediating efforts with concrete actions, she said.

She reaffirmed that a political resolution is the only way to resolve the crisis.

It is imperative to push for a ceasefire and end of violence between the Syrian government and the opposition parties, as well as the resumption of dialogue and negotiations, she said, calling on the international community to continue their efforts towards this end.

Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister and veteran UN official, was appointed by the secretary-general in August 2012 as the joint international envoy for Syria in a bid to mediate an early end to the crisis, which broke out in March 2011.