China, Russia Repeat Rejection Of Foreign Intervention In Syria

During a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, pledged to prevent foreign intervention in Syria.

“On the Syrian issue, China and Russia have stayed in close communication and coordination both in New York [U.N.], Moscow and Beijing,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters on Tuesday, adding that there should be an immediate end to violence, and the political dialogue process should be launched as soon as possible.”

China and Russia have vetoed two separated Security Council resolutions condemning the Assad regime, saying that the U.N. declarations lacked objectivity and sided with the opposition, which Moscow has blamed for the recent Houla massacre and other deaths.

“China and Russia ... oppose external intervention into the Syrian situation and oppose regime change by force, Liu stated.