BEIJING - China on Tuesday called on the Syrian government to fulfill its reform promises and respond to its people's reasonable expectations and appeals, ahead of a visit to Damascus by Beijing's special envoy to the Middle East.

"We hope all parties concerned in Syria can make the national interest and people's interests their priority," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news conference, adding that "violence and bloody conflict should be abandoned and avoided".

Jiang also urged all parties in Syria to positively take part in the peace process and bring constructive attitudes to the table.