Mistimed vote

The timing of the vote was also a point of difference between Russia and major Western powers.

Russia and China had been closely following developments in Syria and actively engaged in consultations over the draft at the UNSC.

Russia had tried to invite representatives from both the Syrian government and the opposition to Moscow for peace talks. And according to Churkin, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had instructed Lavrov and Mikhail Fradkov, director of the service for external intelligence of Russia, to travel to Syria on Tuesday to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia's positive moves deserve support from the international community. France and other Western powers, however, ignored the legitimate concerns of Russia and other countries and called instead for an immediate vote Saturday on the draft, using the pretext of what they called the urgency of the situation in Syria.

"To push through a vote when parties are still seriously divided over the issue will not help maintain the unity and authority of the Security Council, or help resolve the issue," Li said.

"China supports the revision proposals raised by Russia, and has taken note that Russian Foreign Minister (Sergei Lavrov) will visit Syria next week," he said, after vetoing the UN draft together with his Russian counterpart Churkin.

"The request for continued consultation on the draft by some council members is reasonable," Li said.