By Reuters

BEIJING - China said on Thursday that the outside world should not interfere in strife-torn Syria's internal affairs but instead play a "constructive role" in helping it return to peace and stability.

This week, the European Union put into effect a broad range of sanctions against Syria, including asset freezes and travel bans, aimed at forcing the country to end violence against anti-government protesters. 

"Syria is an important country in the Middle East. We hope it can remain stable, and that all sides can, via political dialogue, resolve their differences and avoid bloodshed," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news briefing.

"We also think that the outside world should not interfere in Syria's internal affairs so as to avoid adding complicating factors. We hope the international community can play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East," she added.

U.N. envoys said last month that resistance from Russia, China and Lebanon was behind the failure of the Security Council to condemn Syria's violent crackdown. 

Apart from criticising the Western air campaign against the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's government, China has kept a relatively modest profile in the tumult across the Middle East and north Africa.

Analysts have said that Beijing will carefully foster ties and trade with new governments across the region, while being sure to present itself as a steadfast friend, and oil customer, of governments that ride out the unrest.