China backs ‘transition’ in Syria, opposes intervention

China backs a “political transition” in Syria to end worsening bloodshed after 18 months of unrest, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Wednesday while repeating Beijing’s opposition to forceful foreign intervention in the crisis.

Yang gave no details of what he meant by a transition in Syria, where the government of President Bashar al-Assad has been beset by growing opposition and armed rebellion. Russia has also offered broad support for such a transition.

“We support a period of political transition in Syria,” Yang said at a news conference after talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“But we also believe that any solution should come from the people of Syria and reflect their wishes,” he said. “It should not be imposed from outside.”

Lakhdar Brahimi, the new United Nations-Arab League mediator on Syria, has described his bid to broker peace there as “nearly impossible” but Yang stuck to a more hopeful message.

“I said in a phone call (to Brahimi) that China fully supports his mediation efforts and we hope all the parties will also support his mediation efforts so there can be an appropriate and peaceful solution to the situation in Syria,” Yang said.

“On the question of Syria, let me emphasise that China is not partial to any individual or any party,” he said.