BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Friday that China is willing to cooperate closely with the relevant parties including the United States for an early political solution to the crisis in Syria.

In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Yang said China is willing to work with the international community and will continue to support the mediation efforts of Kofi Annan, the envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria.

He said China will also urge all parties in Syria to take concrete and effective measures to defuse tension in the Middle East country.