China is not trying to protect Syrian President Bashar Assad and will respect the will of the country's people on its future, China's UN ambassador said on Monday.

Li Baodong told reporters that China is calling on all parties in Syria to immediately implement international envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan, stop the killings and launch an inclusive political process to restore peace and stability to the country.

"We (do) not have intention to protect anybody against anybody," he said.

"What we really want to see is that the sovereignty of that country can be safeguarded, and the destiny of that country can be in the hands of the people in Syria".

[Source: AP]