UNITED NATIONS - China on Tuesday expressed its support to the political settlement of the Syrian crisis, saying that the Syrian affairs have to be determined by the Syrian people themselves.

Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement while speaking to the UN-based Chinese media.

"China follows closely the developments of the situation in Syria, supports the political settlement of the Syrian crisis, and has made unremitting efforts to this end," Li said.

The Syrian affairs have to be determined by the Syrian people themselves, any foreign forces should not intervene in the internal affairs of Syria by force, or push through "regime change" in the Middle East country, Li said.

"Sanctions or threat of sanctions are not conducive to a proper settlement of the Syrian problem," he said.

On China's veto last month of a draft on Syria at the UN Security Council, Li said, "the Chinese veto was intended to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and safeguard the rights of the Syrian people to determine their own affairs."

On February 4, Li, together with his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin, vetoed an Arab-European draft resolution which would have asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. China and Russia are two permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council.

"On the issue of Syria, China has no selfish interests," Li said. "We do not shelter anybody, nor do we oppose anybody on purpose. We respect the sovereignty of Syria and respect the choice of the Syrian people."

On Sunday, China issued a six-point statement for the political solution to the Syrian crisis, Li noted.

"I am glad to see that the Chinese stance and proposals received extensive support and high evaluation from the international community," he said.

"The Syrian government and all parties concerned should immediately put an end to all acts of violence, launch the political process and dialogue at an early date," Li said.