The foreign ministers of Russia and China gave a favorable assessment to the referendum on a new constitution held in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on its website.
“The sides positively assessed the outcome of the referendum, which took place in Syria on February 26, on the draft of a new pluralist constitution," the ministry said in a statement after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi spoke by telephone on February 29.
"The ministers called for continued close contact on the Syrian issue, and further coordination of positions at the UN and other international forums,” the statement said.
“Moscow and Beijing have consistently advocated that all interested external parties should facilitate a peaceful settlement in Syria by providing conditions for the start of a broad inclusive dialogue between the Syrian authorities and all opposition groups” the ministry added.
Syria has been the scene of continuous anti-government protests for nearly a year. According to the United Nations, more than 7,500 people have died in the unrest.
