Russia, China 'decisively against' Syria intervention

BEIJING - Agence France-Presse

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands during a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing, on June 6, 2012. AFP photo

Russia and China strongly opposed intervention and regime change in Syria, said a joint statement released on Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese leaders.
 
"Russia and China are decisively against attempts to regulate the Syrian crisis with outside military intervention, as well as imposing a policy of regime change, including within the Security Council," the statement said.
 
Developments in Syria "are significant for peace and stability in the Middle East and the entire world" and should be regulated through political dialogue among all participants of the conflict, it added.
 
The two countries also urged support for the peace plan put forward by UN special envoy Kofi Annan.
 
Russia and China "are convinced of the necessity of strengthening consolidated international support of (Annan's plan), and persuading all participants of the conflict to immediately stop armed conflict".