EU asks China to step up efforts to resolve Syrian crisis

The European Union (EU) Thursday expressed great concern over the situation in Syria and called on China to do more to resolve the crisis following an EU-China summit. "We discussed some of the most critical regional situations affecting our peace and security, in particular in Syria," said the EU Council President Herman van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in a joint statement after the 15th EU-China summit in Brussels tonight. "We stressed to Premier Wen our great concern for the current escalating crisis, and the importance of us all acting together to help resolve the situation and bring lasting stability and peace to the country and its people, " it said. "The situation in Syria has developed into a terrible humanitarian tragedy. We have asked China, as permanent member of the Security Council, to redouble its efforts to ensure the United Nations Security Council can contribute effectively to the solution of the Syrian crisis," added the statement. "Economic and financial issues in Europe, in China and in the rest of the world were a crucial part of our talks," noted the EU statement.