China hails Cyprus's help to dispose Syrian chemical weapons

BEIJING - China spoke highly of Cyprus's assistance to a Chinese frigate that will help escort Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons out of the country, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday.

The frigate Yancheng arrived in the southern Cypriot port of Limassol on Saturday and was welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Xinsheng, Cypriot Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou and local Chinese.

"The Cypriot side provided assistance and facilitation to the frigate on docking and logistics supplies," said spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a daily news briefing.

"China spoke highly of the assistance, which shows not only the friendship between China and Cyprus, but also the support of the Cypriot side for the international security mission," said Hua.

"We believe that the mission of transporting and removing Syrian chemical weapons will be conducted smoothly and safely with the joint efforts of the international community," she said.

In accordance with the decision of the OPCW on the removal of Syrian chemical weapons and UN Security Council Resolution 2118 in September 2013, the chemical weapons will be transported out of Syria and will be delivered to an American vessel for destruction.

Vessels from China, Russia, Denmark and Norway will escort the transportation of the chemical weapons.