GENEVA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Friday said that he is seeking help in getting an agreement with Syria on the final names that needed on the list for the constitutional committee to give it the necessary credibility to drive the peace process forward.
"What is missing is few names to be agreed upon in the constitutional committee, and I have been asking the Chinese government for help in this process," he said at a joint press briefing with China's special envoy for Syria Xie Xiaoyan outside his Palais des Nations office here.
In their final meeting before the UN envoy addresses the Security Council in New York for the last time before he steps down on Dec. 31, de Mistura said that he thanked China for the role it has played in helping to push forward the Syrian peace process.
The UN envoy said he was to address the Security Council on Dec. 20.
At the briefing, Xie said: "I feel encouraged that the situation is now much improved." He said the discussions are continuing on the "commission of the constitutional committee," noting that although there are still differences among the parties, he believes "they will be narrowed."
Xie also stressed that China remains committed to supporting the "indispensable role" of the United Nations in settling the Syrian crisis, and is ready "to provide humanitarian relief if the situation requires it" and to take part in the reconstruction of Syria.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed, Geir Pedersen, who is Norway's ambassador to China, to succeed de Mistura on Jan. 1 next year.
