Afrasianet - Russia and China, in a joint statement on the situation in the world, stressed the need to respect Syria's sovereignty and resolve the crisis through dialogue, calling for an objective investigation into the incidents of chemical use in this country.

"The two sides stress the need to respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and call for a solution to the crisis," the statement said, quoting Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. In Syria through the means of diplomatic diplomacy and through a Syrian-Syrian dialogue, without any preconditions, without interference from abroad. "

The two countries also called for "the search for a political settlement option that matches the specificity of Syria and takes into consideration the concern of all parties involved in this conflict."

The statement added that Russia and China "support the joint efforts being made through the important coordinating role of the United Nations in the fight against international terrorism in Syria and support the constructive role of the Astana process to stop hostilities and violence throughout the territory of Syria and welcome the negotiations taking place in Geneva Under the auspices of the United Nations between representatives of the Syrian authorities and the Syrian opposition. "

The two sides stressed "the need for all parties to support the efforts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the relevant United Nations institutions in respect of chemical weapons issues in Syria and, subject to respect for Syrian sovereignty, to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation in order to obtain definitive evidence and determine the real circumstances And to reach conclusions that are able to withstand the test of facts and time. "

Russia and China strongly condemned "any act in which chemical weapons are used, no matter where they are, or the party that has done them."

In this regard, Moscow and Beijing expressed their deep concern about "the increasing dangers of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorist groups and their possible use of chemicals and biological agents in terrorist acts", calling for "the elaboration of an international convention against chemical and biological terrorism".

In a related context, the two countries affirmed that they "strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms", noting that the international community must "abandon double standards, unite political efforts and combat all the causes and manifestations of terrorism" and called on Moscow and Beijing to "unite in Framework of an international anti-terrorist coalition ".

"In this context, the two parties applaud the efforts of the Russian Air Force, which is carrying out the counter-terrorism operation in the Syrian Arab Republic at the request of the legitimate government of this country, and with the aim of restoring its territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the Syrian state."

Source: Kremlin website