A Chinese envoy on Wednesday urged Israel to cease its attacks on Syria, and foreign forces to end their illegal military presence in the war-torn country, calling on major powers outside the region to play a constructive role in easing the situation.

In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Syria, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, stressed the importance of upholding Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He called on the parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and make concrete efforts to maintain stability in regional countries, including Syria.