Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang attends a press briefing on Thursday. (Photo: fmprc.gov.cn)

China has urged the involved parties to remain calm and restrained on the Syria issue, and ease tensions as soon as possible.

China has been keeping in touch with the US, Russia and other UN Security Council members, as well as other countries and regions on the latest developments in Syria, Chinese spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Thursday.

Communication lines between American and Russian forces in Syria are “active”, the Kremlin said, according to AFP on Thursday.

Before this, Russian officials said that their military will deploy troops in the Syrian town of Duma, and will shoot down missiles fired by the US and its missile launchers. In response, US said that its military stands ready to offer military options depending on orders from US president Donald Trump.