The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and China, sharply at odds over the crisis in Syria, discussed regional developments in phone talks on Wednesday, Saudi state media reported.

Prince Saud al-Faisal spoke with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi about "regional and international issues of mutual interest," the SPA news agency said, without specifically mentioning Syria.

China's official Xinhua news agency earlier quoted Yang, who also held talks this week with his counterparts in Egypt and Algeria, as well as Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, as saying he supported sending humanitarian aid to Syria.

"The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," Yang said.

His discussions came as diplomats in New York said the United States is drawing up a new draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria, which would be the third time Western nations have tried to pass a resolution on the 11-month old crisis.

China and Russia have blocked previous attempts by the Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria, where monitors estimate that more than 7,600 people have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protesters began.

France on Tuesday urged Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, not to veto the latest resolution.

"A resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid in the most threatened areas is under discussion at the Security Council. We can hope that China and Russia will not veto this resolution," Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RTL radio.

Saudi Arabia also on Monday accused some countries of being complacent on Syria and blocking a solution to the deadly violence there.

"The kingdom holds all parties that delay international action (on Syria) morally responsible for developments there, especially if they continue being complacent and ignore the interests of the Syrian people," a government statement said.

China backs international humanitarian aid for Syria
Beijing (AFP) Feb 29, 2012 - China has told the Arab League international humanitarian aid should be allowed into Syria, state media said Wednesday, amid calls for an immediate ceasefire to allow help into the crisis-hit country.

The remarks, made by foreign minister Yang Jiechi during telephone talks with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, came as the United Nations debates a resolution for a halt to the violence and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.

"The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," the state Xinhua news agency said, quoting the Chinese minister.

China and Russia have blocked attempts by the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Syria, where monitors estimate that more than 7,600 people have been killed since a crackdown on anti-government protesters began last March.

Yang, who also held talks with his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria this week, called for the fighting to stop and for the international community to provide humanitarian aid, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Beijing and Moscow -- a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime -- have come in for intense international criticism for vetoing two resolutions condemning the violence in Syria.

France on Tuesday urged Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, not to veto the new resolution.

"A resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid in the most threatened areas is under discussion at the Security Council. We can hope that China and Russia will not veto this resolution," Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RTL radio.