BEIJING, May 9 -- China on Friday welcomed the start of humanitarian aid to the old city of Homs in Syria and called for a full ceasefire.

"The Chinese side welcomes the deal reached between the Syrian government and the opposition forces as well as the launch of humanitarian aid," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

"It is a positive and correct move to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2139," Hua said.

The UN Security Council resolution adopted in February focused on humanitarian access to besieged and remote areas, including across conflict lines and borders, and the expansion of humanitarian relief operations.

"(We) hope the Syrian government and opposition will take it as an opportunity for more concrete measures on a ceasefire and access of humanitarian aid workers... to alleviate the Syrian people's distress," said the spokeswoman.

Media reports say those besieged in the old city of Homs started evacuating on Wednesday, as part of a deal between government troops and armed militant groups. Humanitarian aid is set to enter the city soon.