Beijing: Syria’s deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad was set to begin a four-day visit to China on Monday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said.
This follows a handful of visits by high-level envoys in recent months.
Syria’s opposition this week offered to hold talks with the Damascus government over the country’s bloody conflict, now almost two years long.
China has backed Russia in supporting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, vetoing UN Security Council resolutions that would have put greater pressure on his regime. Beijing has also repeatedly urged dialogue to end the violence.
“This visit is part of China’s efforts to push for a political resolution of the Syria issue,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.
Muqdad will meet China’s foreign minister Yang Jiechi and deputy minister Zhai Jun, she added.
China hosted the UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in October, a Syrian opposition leader in September and a Syrian presidential envoy the month before. It also held talks with Syria’s foreign minister in April.
