Chinese FM Calls for Implementation of Hard-Won Agreement at Munich Syria Talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday that the Munich meeting on Syria had achieved hard-won results, and all sides involved should make efforts to get the newly-reached agreement implemented.

Representatives from the 17-member International Syria Support Group (ISSG), including Wang Yi, gathered in Munich on Thursday for talks, hoping to restart the Syrian peace talks after UN-mediated Geneva negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups within Syria were suspended earlier this month.

Speaking to Chinese media on Friday, Wang said the ISSG meeting had come to three major achievements.

Firstly, all sides have agreed to open up channels for delivering humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria within the week.

Secondly, a cessation of hostilities across Syria will be carried out within a week. A task group, led by the United States and Russia, will be set up to deal with details related to the agreement on reducing violence and a future ceasefire in Syria.

Top diplomats have also agreed that Syrian peace talks need to restart in Geneva as soon as possible.

“The fourth foreign ministers’ meeting of the ISSG has achieved positive and meaningful progress in the early hours of Friday after long discussions. China is pleased to see this result,” said Wang.

The progress made at the meeting, he noted, is hard-earned, adding that it is also a product of a delicate balance of interests.

As a next step, it is important to ensure that the reached agreement will be implemented, said the minister, presenting China’s ideas for promoting the peace process in Syria.

“China advocates a strict implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on Syria which was adopted last year, especially the commitment to find a political solution to the Syria issue,” Wang told reporters.

China believes that all parties in Syria should act in the interests of Syrian people and try to overcome difficulties to restart peace talks as soon as possible, so that Syrian people can decide on their own future.

As for regional powers, Wang noted that they, in particular those who have a major impact on the situation in Syria, should stop blaming each other and play a constructive role in implementing the agreement reached on Friday concerning ceasefire and humanitarian aid.

The minister also called on countries outside the region including ISSG members, especially the United States and Russia, to assume responsibility and play their due role in implementing the newly-reached agreement as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Wang said China, as a member of the ISSG, would continue to participate in the peace process in Syria, and, when necessary, continue to play an active and constructive role and offer proposals to help resolve the Syria issue.

Feb. 12, 2016 on XinhuaNet

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