Stage-by-stage peace path

China's new recommendations on the Syria crisis, put forward by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi during his meeting with the UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday in Beijing, might help build confidence that a political resolution can be found to the 19-month conflict.

Given that both sides in Syria failed to honor the proposed cease-fire, which was brokered by Brahimi and supported by the international community, China's new initiative and support for Brahimi offer renewed hope to resolve the crisis in peace.

As Brahimi is going to present new proposals on Syria to the United Nations Security Council this month, China hopes the international community wakes up to the severity and exigency of the Syria crisis and throws its weight behind Brahimi so that his work can bear fruit at an early date.