China supports extension of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) in order to coordinate the mediation efforts by the UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan and safeguard the direction of political solution to the Syrian crisis, Li Baodong, Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday.

Li made his statement when answering questions of reporters after the conclusion of UN Security Council close consultations on UNSMIS.

"There are two draft resolutions on the table. One is from Russia, the other from Britain. Members of the Security Council is now on consultations of it," he said.

The 15-member Council must decide the future of the UNSMIS by July 20 when its initial 90-day mandate expires.

"China supports extension of UNSMIS, which could help coordinate Annan's mediation efforts and make sure that political solution to the Syrian crisis is on track," Li noted. "Russian version of draft shares same position with China on the above point of view."

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2012)