BEIJING - China on Monday urged the Syrian government and related political parties in the country to seize the important opportunities, and carry out promises of a ceasefire and withdrawal.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the appeal at a routine press briefing in response to a question concerning a freshly released statement by the Syrian foreign ministry.

In a statement issued Sunday, the Syrian foreign ministry said the army will not withdraw from Syrian cities before the UN-Arab League joint envoy to Syria Kofi Annan presents a written guarantee that armed groups will lay down their weapons.

China urged the Syrian government and related political parties in the country to concretely coordinate with Annan's mediation work, so as to ease tensions and solve the Syrian issue, Liu added.

Last Thursday, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement to support the April 10 deadline for the ceasefire on the part of the Syrian government to bring an early end to the year-long crisis.