China supports UN envoy's truce plan in Syria

BEIJING - China has said it supports a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming Eid al-Adha Muslim festival, which was proposed by United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing Wednesday that China is pleased to see Syria's positive response to the UN's call for temporary ceasefire. Hong hoped Syria would support and cooperate with Brahimi's mediation with utmost sincerity and concrete action.

China hopes the Syrian government would take the opportunity to realize a long-term ceasefire to help ease the suffering of its people. Hong also said that favorable conditions would help with a dialogue and a political transitional process to resolve the crisis.

Brahimi, the UN Arab- League (AL) joint special representative for Syria, is on a visit to the country to push for a ceasefire during Muslims' four-day Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, which starts on Friday.

Brahimi had a "frank and substantive" meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday on a possible ceasefire during the Islamic holiday, according to a UN spokesman.

The president had given a positive reaction to Brahimi's call for the government to declare a military pause during the holiday, the UN spokesman said.