On January 20, 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave an interview to Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV), proposing five principles to facilitate a political settlement of Syrian Issue.

Wang Yi said, China welcomes and supports the Geneva II Conference on the Syrian issue to be held in Switzerland on January 22. This is an important opportunity to promote a political settlement of the Syrian issue, and five principles should be carried out: first, the issue of Syria must be resolved through political means; second, the future of Syria must be decided by its own people; third, an inclusive political transition process must be promoted; fourth, national reconciliation and unity must be achieved in Syria; fifth, humanitarian assistance must be delivered in Syria and its neighboring countries..

Wang Yi stresses, the Geneva II Conference marks the beginning of dialogue and negotiation, and it should be an ongoing process. Thus, there should be a clearly defined follow-up mechanism to keep the dialogue, negotiation and other political efforts going. The talk must be started and must go on until a result acceptable to all parties can be found. The Geneva II Conference should be an open platform and the door of peace talks should be open to all Syrian factions which are committed to a political settlement so that they can join in and play their role.

Wang Yi said, the political transition process in Syria must be led by the Syrian people, and the future of Syria, ultimately, can only be decided by the Syrian people themselves. The international community should firmly uphold the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, be devoted to safeguard the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and respect the will and choice of the Syrian people. The international community should always adopt an even-handed and balanced position without being partial to any particular party, to create favorable conditions and a necessary environment for a political transition plan and avoid imposing any political solution from the outside. It is necessary to uphold and bring into full play the role of the United Nations as the main channel of mediation.

Wang Yi said, there are differences and disputes of position and aspiration among various parties in Syria. Inflexibility will lead to a dead end, only mutual understanding and accommodation can point the way forward. We hope that all parties in Syria , for the future of Syria and overall interests of its people, will summon up the political will, to meet each other half way, to draw on useful experience from elsewhere to find a "middle way", keeping in mind Syria's national conditions and accommodating the interests of all parties.