China: Clinton's Syria remarks 'totally unacceptable'

China has denied criticism by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that it is hampering efforts to end the Syrian conflict by supporting president Bashar Assad’s government.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a statement today that Clinton’s remarks were “totally unacceptable” and that China has contributed greatly to the cause of Syrian peace.

He said China has wide international support for its “just and constructive” stance on Syria.

Clinton said at a recent conference on Syria that Russia and China should pay a price for supporting the Assad regime.

"I don't think Russia and China believe they are paying any price at all - nothing at all - for standing up on behalf of the Assad regime," she said yesterday.

"The only way that will change is if every nation represented here directly and urgently makes it clear that Russia and China will pay a price. Because they are holding up progress, blockading it. That is no longer tolerable."