AKIPRESS.COM - China said the start of Russia’s withdrawal from Syria is a “positive signal” towards a negotiated solution to the Syrian civil war, reports Latin American Herald Tribune.

Following the orders of President Vladimir Putin, the first group of Russian combat aircrafts, deployed in a base in Syria, took off Tuesday to return back to the country.

“China believes the decision (by Russia) has released a positive signal to the international community, especially to the conflicting parties in Syria, that they should persist in finding a way out for the Syrian issue through dialogue and talks,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang.

The beginning of Russian withdrawal follows the recent ceasefire agreement, which has been respected “in general” and the resumption of talks between the government and opposition in Geneva.

The civil war in Syria has claimed the lives of more than 273,000 people in five years, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.