Syria ready to enter Geneva peace talks: foreign minister

Beijing: Syria is ready to participate in peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending its brutal civil war, the country's foreign minister said Thursday during an official visit to China.

"Syria is ready to participate in the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in Geneva without any foreign interference," Walid Muallem said during a press briefing following his meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

Last week, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous support to a plan to end the Syrian conflict by summoning rebels and the regime to the negotiating table.

With crucial backing from the United States and Russia, the plan aims to install a ceasefire in Syria, possibly in January, when talks could also begin.