UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Friday vetoed a Japanese-drafted UN securiy council resolution on renewing a joint mechanism to investigate who is behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
Friday's vote was Russia's 11th veto on Security Council resolutions concerning Syria and the third concerning Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The mandate of JIM, which the Security Council unanimously approved in 2015, expires on Friday.
Bolivia also voted against Friday's draft resolution. China abstained.
Russia on Thursday vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have extended JIM's mandate for a year.
Wu Haitao, the charge d'affaires at China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said after Friday's vote that any Security Council action must focus on the overall political process in Syria, which faces important opportunities at the moment.
It is imperative for parties to keep calm and exercise restraint and find an appropriate solution acceptable to all through patient consultation, he said, noting that there are still significant differences among members over JIM.
"Given the differences among council members, forcing a vote does not contribute to the resolution of the issue of chemical weapons in Syria, or serve to safeguard the unity and authority of the Security Council, nor does it help to advance the political process in Syria," he said.
