Chinese foreign minister to take part in Geneva II conference

BEIJING- China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will take part in the Geneva II conference on Syria, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hong Lei said on Monday, according to ITAR TASS.

“On January 22, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will take part in the Geneva II conference,” Hong said.

“China welcomes and supports the Geneva II conference on Syrian settlement,” Wang said on the eve of the trip. He believes that the conference is “a good opportunity to resolve the Syrian issue, and the settlement should be made by political methods, by giving the Syrian people the right to independently determine the country’s future; it is necessary to promote national conciliation and the country’s unity, provide humanitarian aid to Syria and the neighboring countries.”

 “The Geneva II conference is a long process; therefore it is necessary to ensure continuity of the negotiations and political efforts. Not only the discussion, but also the results are needed,” Wang stressed. He added that the Geneva II conference must become “an open-door venue for peaceful negotiations on the Syrian settlement, involving all the political factions”.

M.D