GENEVA (Sputnik) — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying also confirmed earlier in the day that Xie would participate in the UN-brokered talks on the settlement of the Syrian conflict.
"Mr. Xie arrived in Geneva the previous night," the source said, without specifying what meetings Xie was expected to hold in the Swiss city.
The fifth round of the Geneva intra-Syrian talks will start on Thursday. UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy will open the negotiations, while UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to address the participants of the talks on Friday after returning from Ankara.
China expects that the new US administration will take an active stance on the Syrian issue, especially on countering terrorism, after it establishes its policies on the Middle East, China's special envoy for Syria Xie Xiaoyan said Wednesday.
"The new administration is still in the process of making its middle east policy, including Syria issue. I have a sense the new administration does have an emphasis on fighting against terrorism. It's one of the issue on the agenda in Geneva, and the US participation has always been very important. Everybody recognizes us is a major player in the middle east and Syria … Our suspect is that the US administration will actively participate in the Syrian issue, " Xie told reporters.
The envoy also added that China is open to any suggestions on constitutional change in Syria and welcomes Russia’s assistance on the issue.
"Drafting a new constitution is one of the four topics on the agenda. China is open for any suggestions that will lead to drafting a new constitution and to have the parties can proceed in such drafting. Of course eventually drafting the Constitution must be done by the Syrian people. But that doesn't exclude assistance from the outside. Russian help should be welcome," Xie told reporters.
