China, US hold 'frank , in-depth' talks on Syria
China backs efforts by AL to resolve the conflict
through political means:
China: A top Chinese official and US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton held "frank and in-depth" talks on Syria by telephone Monday as
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping began a visit to the United States.
China and Russia have faced a barrage of international criticism this
month for blocking a UN Security Council resolution condemning the
bloody crackdown on protesters in the Middle East country.
State Councillor Dai Bingguo and Clinton -- a fierce critic of
China's veto decision -- had "a frank and in-depth exchange of views on
the current Syria situation", the official Xinhua news agency said
Tuesday.
Dai told Clinton that the violence was "essentially Syria's internal
affair" and China backed efforts by the Arab League to resolve the
conflict through political means, Xinhua said.
He added that China's position on Syria had been "objective and fair
and its attitude was responsible", the report said.
Clinton, who has described the UN Security Council veto as a
"travesty" and accused China and Russia of "protecting the brutal
regime" in Damascus, said the United States would continue to discuss
Syria with China.
The phone call came as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the
country's leader-in-waiting, arrived in the United States for talks with
President Barack Obama and other top leaders including Vice President
Joe Biden.
Since the controversial veto, China has held talks with the National
Coordination Body for Democratic Change (NCB) -- one of the main
opposition factions in Syria -- in Beijing.
The group opposes foreign military intervention in the Syrian
conflict -- in line with China's long-standing policy of
non-interference in other nations' internal affairs.
Beijing has also said it is considering sending envoys to the Middle
East to help resolve the conflict, after Russia sent its top diplomat
Sergei Lavrov to Damascus.
AFP
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