China condemns chemical arms use in Syria

United Nations, Sept 17: China has condemned any use of chemical weapons while calling on the international community to beef up its efforts for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, Monday welcomed the framework agreed by Russia and the US to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons and appreciated the work of the UN fact-finding group on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria on Aug 21, Xinhua reported.

Pledging to study the report in-depth, the envoy noted that the diplomatic efforts of all concerned parties relieved Syria from a hair-trigger situation.

"China firmly opposes and strongly condemns any use of chemical weapons," he said, urging relevant parties to immediately stop the violence and bloodshed in Syria.

"We welcome the accession of Syria to the Chemical Weapons Convention," said the envoy.

Stating that a political solution as the only way out of the Syria crisis, the Chinese ambassador urged the international community to pave the way for the destruction of chemical weapons, and convening of the second Geneva meeting.

The report confirmed that chemical weapons were used in Ghouta.

China is willing to enhance communication and coordination with all relevant parties and make unremitting efforts in this regard, he added.

Liu's remark came after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council early Monday, during which UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed the council about the report from the fact-finding group.

The report confirmed that chemical weapons were used in Ghouta, Syria, without assigning blame on anyone.

IANS