China on Monday called on all parties concerned in Syria to exercise restraint in order to avoid violence or more bloodshed and conflict in the Middle East country.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the call in his speech at the general debate of the 66th UN General Assembly session, which entered its fifth day Monday.

"China is also greatly concerned about the developments in Syria," Yang said. "We hope that parties in Syria will exercise restraint, avoid any form of violence or more bloodshed and conflict, and act quickly to ease tension."

"We believe that a Syria-led, inclusive political process aimed at promoting reform and advanced through dialogue and consultation is the right way to resolve the current crisis in Syria," he said.

Yang urged the international community to "respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, and handle the Syrian issue in a prudent way so as to prevent further turbulence in Syria and its repercussions on regional peace."

Syria has been plunged in six months of unrest which it blames on foreign conspiracy and armed thugs. A recent UN statement put the number of civilians killed during the past six months in Syria at 2,600.