China supports UN investigation in Syria: foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China supports the UN Secretariat in the investigation of reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Wang was responding to a question from Xinhua New Agency on the current situation in the war-torn country.

Syrian opposition groups have claimed that 1,300 people were killed in chemical weapons attacks by government forces on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus last Wednesday. The Syrian government has denied the allegation.

A UN investigation team went to the al-Ghouta region to th east of the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday to start its investigation on the ground.

Wang said China takes a very serious view of the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.

"China's position is that no matter who uses chemical weapons, we firmly oppose such an action," he said.

He said China supports the UN Secretariat to conduct an independent, objective, fair and professional investigation in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and find out the truth as soon as possible.

Political resolution is the only way out of the Syrian issue, he said, adding that the top priority is to convene a second Geneva conference on Syrian issue at an early date.

He called on all parties concerned to deal with the chemical weapons issue discreetly and avoid distracting away from the main issue of a political settlement.

The Syrian government has agreed to cooperate with the on-site investigation, including a cessation of hostilities at related locations.