The international community must continue to strive for a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, said an article in the People's Daily (excerpts below).

According to the United Nations, the Syria crisis has claimed more than 100,000 lives. A UN chemical weapons investigation team arrived in Syria on Sunday. This is at least a new effort by the international community but much more must be done.

The civil war has been raging for more than two years. Neither party will halt the fighting without sustained international pressure.

Both the army and the rebels have expressed a willingness to cooperate with the UN team. This should be welcomed. Progress can be made. True, it has been slow but that is no reason for the international community to give up.