China has urged President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to engage with the Arab League and the Syrian opposition as Syrian security forces continue to target pro-democracy protesters.

The Chinese deputy foreign minister Zhai Jun met President Assad on Saturday shortly before Syrian troops opened fire on a funeral procession in Damascus.

Zhai, who met Syrian opposition and government representatives, said China was “deeply concerned by the escalating crisis” but added that “the Chinese experience shows a nation cannot develop without stability”.

For more on this story, visit: China backs Assad before Syrian forces open fire at funeral | World news | guardian.co.uk.