China warns against escalation of tensions in Syria, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hong Lei said, commenting on the Friends of Syria Conference held in Istanbul on April 1, RIA Novosti reports.
The conference recognized the Syrian National Council as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people and decided to form a working group to develop sanctions against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
China supports the efforts of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in resolving the Syrian crisis. According to Annan’s plan, the Syrian government and opposition must end hostilities under control of a UN mechanism, allow humanitarian aid to be provided and inter-Syrian dialogue to start. The UN Security Council approved the plan on March 21.
The disorders in Syria have been going on for over a year. The UN says that over 9,000 people have died. The Syrian authorities insist that over 2,000 troops and police officers have died in clashes with well-armed foreign militants.
