China Urges Parties to Syrian Conflict to Adhere to Ceasefire Deal

China is concerned about the violation of the Syrian ceasefire and called on all warring parties to abide by the ceasefire deal, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China is concerned about increased fighting in parts of Syria and urges all warring parties to stick to the ceasefire deal, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.

Russia and the United States brokered a truce for Syria that came into being on February 27. Both warring parties have since accused each other of violating it. Hostilities intensified over the past week, most notably around the northern city of Aleppo.

"There has recently been an escalation in parts of Syria, leading to human casualties. China is concerned about it. This truce underpins the Syrian political settlement and the peace talks in Geneva. We hope that all sides will maintain the ceasefire and create favorable conditions for the political process," Hong Lei announced at a press briefing in Beijing.

The spokesman added Beijing believed that a political dialogue was the only way to end the five-year war in Syria, which has killed over 400,000 people since the conflict began, according to the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.