Chinese Envoy Arrives in Syria on Friday for ‘Peaceful’ Conflict Resolution

China said Thursday it is sending an envoy to Syria to push for a "peaceful" resolution of the conflict there, after drawing condemnation for vetoing a resolution condemning a crackdown on protesters.

Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will visit Syria from February 17 to 18, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular briefing.

"He will exchange views with the Syrian government and parties concerned in Syria on the current... situation to push for a peaceful and proper resolution of the... crisis," Liu said.

China and Russia have faced a barrage of criticism for blocking a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the bloody crackdown on protests in Syria, including from Arab nations with which Beijing normally has good ties.

Beijing said Tuesday one of its diplomats had met the Arab League head to discuss the crisis and that another envoy would soon go to the Middle East.

Li Huaxin travelled to Egypt on Friday to meet with foreign ministry officials and held talks with Nabil al-Arabi, head of the Arab League, on Monday to explain why Beijing vetoed the resolution.

Li, who was Beijing's ambassador to Syria until last year, will go to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to further lay out China's position on Syria, Liu said previously.

China's special envoy on the Middle East Wu Sike will also travel to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan from February 19 to 23 to expand on Beijing's position on Syria.

China has repeatedly defended its decision to veto the U.N. Security Council resolution, saying it would not protect the regime of Syria's President Bashar Assad and that its priority was to prevent further violence.