BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday urged all sides concerned to keep calm and restrained on the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Wang made the remarks as he replied to a question from Xinhua.

"China keeps a close watch on the latest situation in Syria," Wang said, adding that the Chinese side is firmly opposed to any use of chemical weapons in Syria and supports the UN's independent, objective, impartial and professional investigation there.

Wang said nobody should interfere with or prejudge the investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The US and its allies are considering launching strikes on Syria in response to deadly alleged chemical attacks last week in eastern Ghouta in the countryside of Damascus, which claimed hundreds of lives.

The Syrian government and opposition groups have traded accusations about the use of chemical weapons. Syria has allowed an access for UN inspectors to probe the use of chemical weapons in eastern Ghouta.

"A political solution is always the only realistic means to resolve the Syria issue," said the Chinese foreign minister, adding that military interference from the outside will conflict with the UN Charter and exacerbate the turmoil in the Middle East.

(China Daily USA 08/29/2013 page1)