Syria Envoy Brahimi Urges China To Play 'Active Role'

The United Nations-Arab League envoy on the Syria crisis has called on China to “play an active role” to try to end the violence in the Middle Eastern nation.

Lakhdar Brahimi made the call as he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing on October 31.

The meeting was held days after the collapse of a truce between Syrian government forces and armed rebels that had been brokered by Brahimi.

Veto-holding UN powers China and Russia have blocked three Western- and Arab League-backed draft Security Council resolutions aimed at pressuring the Syrian regime to take steps to halt the violence.

Brahimi came to Beijing after holding talks in Moscow on October 29 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia, China, and Iran are the main international supporters of the Syrian government.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP