China takes a fair and pragmatic stance on the Syrian issue and has been paying close attention to the development of the situation in Syria, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said?in Hammamet?on Thursday.

China is concerned about the Syrian issue as much as Arab states, and the efforts for a political solution to the crisis are now at a critical stage, Yang told a joint press conference held at the end of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.

While UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan is actively mediating the crisis and the UN observer mission has been fully deployed in Syria, armed conflicts and terror attacks continued unabated, Yang said.

China was shocked and saddened by the recent killings of civilians in the town of Houla, Yang said, adding that China strongly condemns assaults on civilians, especially on women and children.

And China demands a fair and thorough investigation into the incident, and that those found responsible should be severely punished, Yang said.

The incident in Houla has again highlighted the urgent need for a full ceasefire and an end to violence in Syria, Yang said, calling for further efforts from the international community for an immediate and full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and the six-point peace plan proposed by Annan.

Yang stressed that China, which takes a fair and pragmatic stance on the Syria issue, aims to maintain the basic norms of international relations, the peace and stability in the Middle East, and the long-term interests of the Arab states and peoples.

He added that China has been making balanced, profound efforts to persuade the Syrian government and the opposition into holding peace dialogues.

He also stressed China and Arab states share common goals on the Syrian issue, noting that Arab countries have hailed China's efforts for a political solution to the crisis during the ministerial conference as well as in the communique issued by the conference.

"China is a genuine friend of the Arab people, and it is willing to work with Arab states for an early, just, peaceful and proper solution to the Syrian issue," the minister said.