By Shannon Tiezzi
As promised, China hosted a Syrian government delegation this week to talk about the peace process.
Last week, China offered to host representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition for talks, Beijing’s way of supporting a peace process laid out by a recent UN Security Council resolution. Less than a week later, on December 23, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem arrived in Beijing for meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and State Councillor Yang Jiechi.
Prior to Moallem’s visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei explained, “The invitation is part of China’s efforts to promote peace talks and the political settlement of the Syrian issue.” He reiterated that “the Chinese side will also invite the Syrian opposition for a visit.”
When Moallem arrived, China became the first country to host a high-ranking Syrian official since the UN Security Council resolution passed. Thus it was in Beijing that the Syrian foreign minister confirmed the government’s willingness to participate in the peace process. Syrian Arab News Agency reported that Moallem declared Syria “ready to participate in the inter-Syrian dialogue to be held in Geneva without foreign interference.”
Wang told reporters that he and Moallem had agreed on three general principles for the talks: “We should stick to the peaceful resolution of Syrian issue, the people of Syria should decide the future and fate of Syria, and the U.N. plays a key role in negotiations.” China has long insisted that a political process conducted by the Syrians themselves is the only way to solve the crisis – and had thus avoided taking an active role in either the U.S. or Russian-led airstrikes on Syrian soil.
Read the full story at The Diplomat