China, Egypt call for political resolution to Syria issue

Chinese and Egyptian foreign ministers called for adherence to a political solution to the Syria issue during their talks here Wednesday. The two ministers, Yang Jiechi and visiting Mohammed Amr, maintained that the international community should respect the choice of the Syrian people and support mediation efforts made by joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, according to a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. They also called for safeguarding peace and stability in Syria and the Middle East, and promoting an early resolution of the Syria issue in a fair, peaceful and proper way. The two sides said that relevant parties in Syria should immediately end violent conflicts, launch political talks and ease the humanitarian situation. The two ministers also exchanged views on bilateral relations. Yang said China and Egypt have been "keeping mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support" since the diplomatic relations were established. China hopes to work with Egypt to promote the bilateral strategic cooperative relations, Yang added. Amr said the Egyptian side values its traditional friendship with China. And the country has the desire to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in each field with China and push the strategic cooperative relations to a higher level. Amr is visiting China from March 20-22, at the invitation of Yang.