China condemns Syria bomb attack, supports UNSMIS

China on Thursday condemned a bomb attack that occurred on Wednesday in the vicinity of a convoy of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press conference that China has sent personnel to participate in the activities of the UNSMIS, and will continue to support and cooperate with the group.

"China hopes that all the Syrian parties will, based on the interests of the state and the people, effectively implement the commitment to stop violence, cooperate with and support the activities of the UNSMIS, ensure the safety of the UNSMIS and start political dialogue at an early date," he said.

The attack occurred soon after the UNSMIS convoy had crossed a Syrian military checkpoint near Dar'a town in the south of Syria. There were no UN casualties or damage to UN vehicles in the explosion, but it did result in injuries of 10 Syrian soldiers.

The UNSMIS was founded by the UN Security Council in April to monitor a ceasefire in Syria and support the implementation of the six-point plan for peace in the country proposed by the UN-Arab League joint special envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, who negotiated the ceasefire in order to put an early end to the Syrian crisis which broke out in March 2011.