China reveals Syria peace plan, meets with peace envoy in Beijing

GlobalPost

China appears to be taking a more active role in settling the Syria crisis, meeting the UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi Wednesday in Beijing and revealing a four-point plan for resolving the bloody, 19-month conflict.

After meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Brahimi said he believes in China’s ability to help end fighting that has killed more than 30,000 people, AFP reported.

Brahimi said that he is hopeful “China can play an active role in solving the events in Syria,” according to AFP.

As members of the Security Council, China and Russia have blocked previous United Nations efforts to intervene in Syria.

However, this is the third meeting between Brahimi and Yang in two months, AFP said.

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Yang said he’s equally optimistic that they can promote “mutual understanding” and “the appropriate handling of the Syrian issue.”

China also suggested its own plan to ending the uprising against President Bashar Al Assad.

According to China’s semi-official Xinhua news agency, the country’s four-point plan includes:

1. Stop shooting and cooperate with Brahimi. Phase in the cease-fire slowly region by region if needed.

2. “Relevant parties” should appoint representatives to work with Brahimi and the international community to plan “political transition,” establish a transitional government while maintaining an effective government.

3. Encourage the international community, especially the Arab League, to work closely with Brahimi to implement his predecessor, Kofi Annan’s, six-point plan and “relevant Security Council resolutions.”

4. Ease the humanitarian crisis by resettling refugees and providing aid.

China prefers a diplomatic and political resolution to the crisis over military intervention, The Associated Press said.

Yang said China supports a “fair, peaceful and appropriate” resolution.

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