Syrian envoy to meet China's foreign minister during four-day visit
Aim of visit is to 'push for political resolution' to two-year-old conflict, says Beijing
Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad arrived in Beijing for a four-day visit yesterday, after Syria's opposition offered to hold talks with the Damascus government to end its long bloody conflict.
Muqdad will meet Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Deputy Foreign Minister and Zhai Jun during his trip, which will end on Thursday.
"The visit is part of China's efforts to push for a political resolution of the Syria issue," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press briefing.
Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, visited China last April when Yang called on Damascus to embark on a process of inclusive political dialogue and reform.
With the new leadership of Beijing already lined up, the Syrian regime wants to know whether China will handle Syria with a different approach
China has attempted to show it is not taking sides in the crisis by hosting members from both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the opposition. Last September, Beijing hosted a Syrian opposition leader, a month after doing the same for a Syrian presidential envoy. UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi also visited China last month.