Syrian opposition leader Alptekin Hocaoglu is visiting China for four days, starting from Tuesday, Jan. 5, as part of Beijing's latest effort to encourage talks between the Syrian government and opposition, as reported by China Daily.
This marks the first time China has announced in advance a visit by a Syrian opposition leader.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with the opposition leader, who is the president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, at some point in his stay, according to ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying's statement during a press briefing on Monday.
Hua said that Hocaoglu was invited by the Chinese People's Institute for Foreign Affairs.
The visit of the opposition leader comes after the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem to China from Dec. 23-26.
After meeting with Wang, al-Moallem told reporters that the Syrian government was willing to participate in peace talks with Geneva with the goal of ending the civil war.
"Our delegation will be ready as soon as we receive a list of the opposition delegation," said al-Moallem. He added that there should be no foreign interference in the talks.
Al-Moallem's remarks came after the U.N. Security Council in December unanimously supported a resolution calling for a ceasefire, talks between Syria's government and opposition, creating a unity government and holding elections.
Li Guofu, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that there is still a long way to go before the Syrian government and opposition reach a settlement, but it is good that international pressure has made them willing to talk.
"China is now serving as a mediator," Li said.