Will UN mediator Kofi Annan's efforts to broker a ceasefire and national reconciliation in Syria finally pick up steam?

This is still a hard question to answer even after major countries in the international community reached a consensus that a transitional government, which could include both members of the government and opposition, should be set up in the war-torn country.

However, what the Action Group on Syria meeting achieved in Geneva on Saturday is inspiring, as all parties have agreed that a political settlement to the crisis is the right approach. It is also good news that Annan's efforts now have the support of all the major countries in the world.

China strongly supports all the efforts Annan has made. But Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that any political settlement can only be led by the Syrian people and has to be acceptable to all parties in the country. External forces can never make the choice for Syrian people and they cannot impose a political solution onto Syrian people.

But despite the fact that the international consensus on a political settlement is a step forward, it will be a challenge implementing it.

The United States and Russia are still at odds over whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be part of the transitional government, although Annan said that it should include the members of Assad's administration and Syrian opposition.

Major countries still have to consult further on this issue and the concrete support they will provide to get the new agreement up and running.

Another obstacle is whether Assad and his government and the opposition will accept the plan since no representatives of either participated in the meeting.

However, the Syrian government and the opposition should be aware that further conflict and violence will likely spin out of control and develop into an all out civil war, which would be in the interests of neither. They should be aware of how important their cooperation is to the future of this country and its people.

The new achievement has offered all who are eager to see the end of violence and national reconciliation the possibility of another option, besides the extreme approaches such as military intervention and "region change".

It is a critical moment for Syria and the plan for a transitional government is the best chance for peace. The two sides should not let it slip away.

(China Daily 07/02/2012 page8)