Thaindian News

Beijing, May 11 (IANS) China and Russia have pledged to make joint efforts to seek a political solution to the ongoing Syrian turbulence as the two countries’ foreign ministers held talks in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Thursday reiterated the two nations’ support to the six-point plan for peace in Syria proposed by the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, Xinhua reported.

The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers made the remarks after two blasts rocked Syrian capital Damascus earlier in the day, killing 55 people.

Annan is working to bring an early end to the Syrian crisis that started last March.

“To appropriately address the Syrian issue, all sides concerned should respect Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Yang said, adding that the development path of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people on their own.

The two ministers also urged “outside forces” to stop disturbing Annan’s work and instigating new conflicts in Syria.

“Some countries are inciting outside forces to interference into the Syrian situation, which is unacceptable,” the Russian foreign minister told reporters.

During their talks, both foreign ministers also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, said a release issued after the talks.

On Afghan situation, Yang said China supports Afghanistan in its efforts to realise peace, stability, independence and development at an early date, urging the international community to increase aid for the insurgency-inflicted country.

Lavrov is paying an official visit to China from Thursday to Friday to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.