China, India, Russia hold discussion over Syria and Afghanistan

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China, India, Russia hold discussion over Syria and Afghanistan

(Xinhuanet.com) 08:30, November 11, 2013

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 10 -- China, India and Russia Sunday stressed the need to find a political solution to the Syria crisis, while expressing hope that a peaceful transition can be achieved in Afghanistan.

The foreign ministers of the three countries held their 12th trilateral meeting here and discussed Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Korean peninsula situation as well as counter-terrorism, drug trafficking and security in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Seigei Lavrov.

Lavrov said the three foreign ministers agreed that a peaceful solution rather than a military one is the only way to end the civil war in Syria. He also said that all three countries hope the Geneva II conference on Syria should be held as soon as possible and that UN inspectors should be given access to the chemical stockages.

The three foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan.

Wang Yi said the Afghanistan is one of the most important issues for the region.

"We hope to see a safe, stable, unified and developing Afghanistan. We actively participate in reconstruction of Afghanistan, which is in an important period of transition," said Wang.

A smooth holding of election, an Afghan-decided peace process and UN action in coordinating international support to Afghanistan are key elements to make a peaceful transition in the country, he pointed out.

China will host an international conference on Afghanistan next year in Tianjin as the fourth conference of the Istanbul process for Afghanistan, he added.

Lavrov said they three shared concerns on the situation in the backdrop of the impending drawdown of the U.S.-led international forces next year.

He also pointed out that the international community needs to participate to prevent the escalation of drug trafficking in Afghanistan.

On the Iranian nuclear issue and the talks between Iran and the six global powers in Geneva, Lavrov expressed optimism that an agreement can be reached between the Iranian government and the international community over Teheran's nuclear issue.

He said the new Iranian government under President Hassan Rouhani is "decisive" and the talks concentrated on searching for a mutually acceptable decision on the issue.

Russia had conveyed at the Iran talks that there is "no alternative to negotiations" and that "using sanctions as a means of pressing a point should be given up, to proceed in a business- like method", he said.

He also praised U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for playing a major role in working out a common approach at the Iran talks which ended in Geneva on Sunday without reaching any agreement.