China has been following the latest developments of Syria with great concern and called on all sides to resolve the issue in a peaceful way, Chinese diplomat He Yafei said Monday at a special session of UN Human Rights Council on Syria.

China has hoped all parties in Syria would show maximum restraint and refrain from all acts of violence, He, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN office at Geneva, said in a statement.

The concerned parties should seek a political solution through dialogue and consultations, so as to prevent escalating violence and more bloodshed, and restore stability and order to the country as soon as possible, He added.

"The future of Syria should be determined by its people rather than being dictated by outside forces," He said, stressing that the only way to end the current crisis is to initiate a home-led and inclusive political process.

In view of the reform measures that the Syrian government has taken, China urged the government to implement its promised reforms, adding that "we would also appeal to all interested parties to participate constructively in the dialogue so as to jointly move forward the political process to diffuse tensions."

The stability of Syria has significant impact on the overall stability and security of the Middle East as Syria is an important country in that region, He said.

Therefore, "the turmoil affecting parts of the Middle East and North Africa is seriously disrupting the economic and social development and people's lives in those countries."

The international community has proposed a number of initiatives to solve the Syrian issue, He said, while the Chinese government held that these initiatives must be guided by the UN Charter and the international law, and must fully respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria.

Meanwhile, these initiatives should also aim at solving the issue through dialogues and consultations, while maintaining stability and social order of Syria, and more broadly, that of the overall Middle East region.

This is the second time in a year the human rights council met in special session to discuss the human rights situation in Syria.

"It is our hope that in expressing its concern on and discussing this issue, the Council will maintain its impartiality and objectivity and base its actions on accurate and reliable information," He said.

"We also hope that the special session will help advance dialogue and cooperation, instead of turning into a forum to level accusations and exert pressures on the country, with the view of bringing an early solution to the problem in the interests of the healthy development of the international human rights cause," said the statement.