China urges end to Mali crisis

China on Friday urged the Mali military junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to explore ways to end the ongoing crisis in Mali following last week's military coup.

"China supports ECOWAS in leading mediation for peace in Mali," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing.

He urged relevant parties in Mali to establish dialogue channels with ECOWAS as soon as possible and seek solutions to end the crisis.

The regional bloc of ECOWAS has warned Mali's junta to restore constitutional order as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will implement sanction measures, including closing borders and freezing the accounts of Mali's central bank, according to media reports.

The military junta declared an end to President Amadou Toumani Toure's rule on March 22 in a coup, the latest in a series of coups that have occurred in French-speaking countries in West Africa since 2008.