China calls for 'patience' over Syria crisis

China on Monday called for relevant parties' patience in finding a solution to the Syria crisis, after no apparent resolution was found after the latest Geneva meeting on the issue.

At a daily press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "China holds that a political solution is the only realistic way out of the Syria issue."

China supports relevant parties' efforts to promote the political solution, as well as the impartial mediation work conducted by UN-Arab League joint special representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, he said.

Hong said China hoped relevant parties can build consensus on the basis of the Geneva Communique agreed at the Action Group's meeting on June 30 and push for an impartial, peaceful and proper solution at the earliest date.

"Meanwhile, China urges the Syrian government and the opposition to be pragmatic and actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties so as to launch political dialogue and transition with the aim of an early end to the Syria crisis," Hong said.

The latest Geneva talks, held on Jan. 11, drew together Brahimi, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns. The three stressed the need for a speedy end to all forms of violence in Syria.

The previous talks of the three envoys were held in December, when they agreed that a political process to end the crisis in Syria was necessary and possible.