China and Russia have separately rebuffed accusations by Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, that they are hindering the resolution of the crisis in Syria.
Aljazeera reported that Liu Weiman, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said Clinton's comments, made at the “Friends of Syria” meeting in France on Friday, were “totally unacceptable”, adding that any attempt to “slander” his country was doomed to fail.
At the meeting, CIinton said the two countries should “pay a price” for helping Bashar al-Assad keep power in Damascus, remarks that were among Washington's toughest yet in 16 months of revolt in Syria.
Liu said China's efforts at resolving the crisis had won international support.
“On the Syria problem, China's fair and constructive stance and its contributions toward diplomatic efforts have attained the wide understanding and support of relevant parties in the international community”, he said in a statement on the ministry's website.
“Any words and deeds that slander China and sow discord between China and other countries will be in vain”.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, “categorically” rejected “the formulation that Russia supports Assad's regime in the situation that has developed in Syria”.
Clinton said at the meeting the only way matters would change “is if every nation represented here directly and urgently makes it clear that Russia and China will pay a price because they are holding up progress, blockading it”.
Russia and China have repeatedly used veto power at the UN Security Council to block calls for Assad to leave power.
The two countries say they are committed to the peace plan drafted by UN envoy Kofi Annan which proposes national dialogue.