Annan to Visit China Tuesday and Wednesday
U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's visit to China to discuss the crisis in Syria, initially scheduled for this weekend, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Annan's spokesman had said on Friday he would visit Beijing and Moscow at the weekend for talks in two countries criticized for resisting global efforts to condemn Syrian President Bashar Assad.
But the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday on its website that the visit to China would take place on "March 27 and 28".
No-one at the Foreign Ministry could be reached on Saturday to explain the change in timetable.
Annan heads to Moscow on Saturday, where he will meet President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday.
"Chinese leaders will receive Mr. Annan, and officials from the foreign ministry will hold in-depth discussions with him," said spokesman Hong Lei in comments on the foreign ministry website, but did not give the names of the people who would meet Annan.
"China views as important and supports Mr. Annan's mediation efforts," and hopes the talks during his visit will lead to a "political solution to the Syrian issue" which is "fair, peaceful and appropriate," added the spokesman.
China and Russia, both allies of Damascus, drew widespread condemnation when they blocked two U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning the crackdown in Syria, which has left thousands dead.
But Beijing and Moscow backed a statement at the Security Council Wednesday demanding that Syria implement Annan's peace plan to end the crisis, which began more than a year ago when pro-democracy activists first took to the streets.
Source: Agence France Presse
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