Chinese envoy travels to Syria to negotiate cease-fire

Beijing representative meets with Syrian foreign minister and opposition groups to end violence

8 March 2012, 1:34 pm

Edit

Relatives mourn the death of a victim of a Syrian Army sniper on Wednesday (photo credit: AP/Rodrigo Abd)

BEIJING (AP) — China says its envoy held talks with Syria’s foreign minister and opposition figures and reiterated Beijing’s position that the Syrian crisis could be settled peacefully through dialogue.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on its website Thursday that Li Huaxin met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and his deputy during a two-day visit this week. Li also met with representatives of Syrian opposition groups.

The visit came after China released a proposal calling for an immediate cease-fire in Syria and talks by all parties but opposing any intervention by outside forces.

China and Russia have vetoed two U.N. resolutions condemning the Syrian government’s bloody crackdown on opposition and calling for President Bashar Assad to step down.