Beijing Urges Warring Sides in Syria to Cease Hostilities, Relaunch Peace Talks

Beijing is concerned over the escalation of tensions in Syria and urges all parties to the conflict to relaunch peace talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — All sides should comply with the previously adopted UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, including resolution 2254 which provided a roadmap for the Syrian peace process, he added.

"China is concerned about the escalation of the conflict…The cessation of hostilities is a key point for a political solution in Syria and also an important guarantee for improving the humanitarian situation and efficient fight against terrorism. We urge all sides to establish favorable conditions for ceasefire, relaunch peace talks and deliver humanitarian assistance," he said at a briefing.

On Sunday, the UN Security Council convened for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where the Syrian government forces are carrying out an offensive against Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front and the so-called armed opposition groups.

Fighting in Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on September 19, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.