On May 31, 2012, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi elaborated the Chinese government's position on the Syrian issue about which the international community is generally concerned at the joint press conference after the closing of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

Yang said that China, just like the Arab states, is very concerned about the development of the Syria issue. At present, it is at a critical stage to seek political solution for the issue. Special Envoy Annan is actively mediating and the United Nations monitoring mission has been deployed and started working in Syria. However, armed conflicts and terrorist attacks continue happening in Syria. The Chinese side is deeply shocked and grieved over the recent attack in Houla town, most strongly condemns the brutal massacre of innocent civilians, especially women and children and demands to conduct impartial and thorough investigations and severely punish the murderers.

He noted that the incident in Houla town shows once again it is of great urgency to achieve complete cease-fire and stop violence in Syria. In order to maintain the hard-won momentum of political solution and avoid the escalation of the crisis, the international community should further intensify its efforts to urge all the parties concerned to immediately and completely implement relevant Security Council resolutions and Annan's six-point proposal, actively support the mechanism to supervise the ceasefire, stop all forms of violence, effectively protect the civilians and create conditions to ease tensions and promote the political solution as soon as possible.

He stressed that China first of all upholds an impartial position on the Syrian issue. What China stands up for is the norms governing the international relations, peace and stability in the Middle East and the long-term interests of people of Arab states. Second, China holds a pragmatic attitude on the Syrian issue. China is dedicated to promoting peace talks with concrete actions, approaches the Syrian government and the opposition in a balanced manner and keeps close communication with all the parties concerned. Third, the overall objectives of China and the Arab side on the Syrian issue are consistent. In this Ministerial Conference and the communiqué released during the Conference, the Arab side expressed appreciation for China's efforts to seek the political solution of the Syrian issue.

He said finally that China is a sincere friend of the Arab people and expects to work with the Arab states and the Arab League to continue to work to seek a just, peaceful and proper solution of the Syrian issue at an early date.

During this Ministerial Conference, delegates of the Arab states all expressed appreciation for the impartial position of the Chinese government on the Syrian issue. The Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby pointed out in a joint press conference that the Arab League and China hold aligned position on the Syrian issue. Both sides oppose foreign military intervention and advocate political solution to the crisis in Syria. China is always supportive for the just cause of the Arab people.