Iran and China Stress Common Views on Syria

A Chinese diplomat, who has been recently appointed as the Chinese government’s representative for the Syria affairs, held a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran on Tuesday.

Voicing Beijing’s support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria and reliance on the results of the political negotiations, the Chinese envoy insisted that shaping Syria’s future, drawing up the constitution and electing the president should be left in the hands of the Syrian nation, without any foreign interference.

The Iranian deputy minister, for his part, deplored the lack of serious international actions against terrorist groups in Syria, what the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) had agreed to pursue along with the political talks.

The Iranian and Chinese officials both denounced a violation of ceasefire by the armed opposition groups in Syria, and called for the delivery of humanitarian aid in all parts of the war-torn country.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

According to a new report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.