UN resolution injects fresh impetus to solve Syrian crisis: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C, front) speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, Dec. 18, 2015. The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution endorsing an international roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition in order to end the country's conflict, which calls for Syria peace talks to begin in early January. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 18 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Friday hailed the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2254 by the UN Security Council on the same day, calling it "fresh impetus to solve the Syrian crisis."

The resolution endorses an international roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition to end the country's conflict, which calls for Syrian peace talks to begin in early January.

"The resolution embodies the broad consensus of the international community, demonstrates the important role of the council, reflects the keen aspiration of the Syrian people and injects fresh impetus to politically solve the Syrian issue," Wang told a council meeting.

He called for effective implementation of the resolution "with a view to translating consensus into action and expectation into reality."

Wang urged the international community, which has been making relentless effort to seek a political settlement of the Syrian issue for five years, to press ahead with such effort firmly and steadily so as to put it on "an irreversible track."

"We must remain committed to the goal of political settlement," said Wang, stressing that there is no military solution to the crisis and political negotiation is the only viable option.

"All warring parties must stop fighting immediately. Those organizations and individuals that reject ceasefire would find themselves on the opposite side of the Syrian people," Wang said, calling on relevant countries to leverage their influence to engage various parties in Syria for a meaningful ceasefire.

The Syrian future must be independently decided by the Syrian people, Wang said, noting that the political process must be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.

He stressed that the process of drafting a new constitution must be independently decided by all parties and groups of Syria and that the future leader of Syria must be independently chosen by the Syrian people.

"The international community needs to foster an enabling environment and all parties should create a favorable condition for that," Wang said.

The Chinese top diplomat also emphasized that the UN should be the main channel for mediation.

"UN involvement will bring more legitimacy and authority to the process," he said, noting that UN is "the largest common denominator acceptable to all parties."

Before the Security Council meeting, Wang briefed the Chinese media on the third foreign minister meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) held earlier in the day, noting that China has held a clear and firm position on the Syrian issue. "We are committed to political solution," Wang said, stressing that China will always "vote for peace".

On China's role in solving the Syrian issue, Wang pointed out that China does not have or pursue self-interests, adding that China's goal is always to avoid war and turmoil and to give peace a chance.

"What we are trying to do is to uphold fundamental and long-term interests of the people in Syria and the region, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations and protect the legitimate interests of developing countries, especially small- and medium-sized countries," Wang said.

The changing dynamics of the Syrian situation affects various parties, the neighboring countries and the whole world, Wang said, adding that the spillover effect has triggered severe global challenges such as terrorism and the refugee crisis.

The minister called upon all parties to work together to advance political transition, jointly fight terrorism, ease the humanitarian crisis and take a holistic approach to the refugee problem.