CHINA said Thursday that a Syrian opposition delegation had visited the country this week and met a vice foreign minister, the first contact reported by Beijing in the wake of its veto in the U.N. of a draft resolution on Syria.

    The delegation from the Syrian National Coordination Body for Democratic Change, led by its deputy general coordinator Hassan Mana, made a four-day trip to China, leaving Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said.

    They met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun and other senior diplomats.

    “Both sides exchanged views on the present situation in Syria, and China explained its principles and position … and called on all sides to immediately stop the violence,” Liu told a daily news briefing.

    “The Syrian Government should earnestly fulfill its promises, urgently begin an inclusive reform process that has wide participation, and resolve disputes and conflicts via talks and consultations,” he said, repeating that China was a friend of the Syrian people.

    “China is willing to maintain contacts and communication with relevant Syrian opposition groups, and is willing to push and encourage talks and make great efforts to ameliorate the situation.”

    China will “make unstinting efforts towards peace and stability in Syria,” he said.

    The mainly Syria-based National Coordination Body is opposed to foreign intervention in the crisis, but not Arab involvement.

    Meanwhile, the European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday.

    The official said the new measures may include bans on the import of Syrian phosphates, on commercial flights between Syria and Europe, and on financial transactions with the country’s central bank. The European Union imports 40 percent of Syria’s phosphate exports. He said some measures would be adopted at the EU foreign ministers meeting Feb. 27.

    Also Thursday, Germany said it had decided to expel four Syrian diplomats, who were found linked to two men arrested Tuesday, who were suspected of spying for the Syrian Government.

    Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations, said Wednesday that the Arab League intends to restart its controversial observer mission in Syria, and suggested that the world body could back a joint initiative.

    (SD-Agencies)