China backs international humanitarian aid for Syria

CHINA: China has told the Arab League international humanitarian aid should be allowed into Syria, state media said yesterday, amid calls for an immediate ceasefire to allow help into the crisis-hit country.

The remarks, made by foreign minister Yang Jiechi during telephone talks with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, came as the United Nations debates a resolution for a halt to the violence and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.

“The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria,” the state Xinhua news agency said, quoting the Chinese minister.

China and Russia have blocked attempts by the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria, where monitors estimate that more than 7,600 people have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protesters began last March.

Yang, who also held talks with his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria this week, called for the fighting to stop and for the international community to provide humanitarian aid, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Beijing and Moscow -- a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime -- have come in for intense international criticism for vetoing two resolutions condemning the violence in Syria.

France on Tuesday urged Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, not to veto the new resolution.

“A resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid in the most threatened areas is under discussion at the Security Council.

We can hope that China and Russia will not veto this resolution,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RTL radio. AFP