Crude futures settle higher

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery gained 82 cents, or 1.33 percent, to settle at 62.55 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for December delivery added 80 cents, or 1.22 percent, to settle at 66.25 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani of the Syrian interim government in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that China pursues a foreign policy of friendship towards all Syrian people, and respects the choices made by the Syrian people independently.

He said that the two sides should respect each other's core interests, uphold non-interference in each other's internal affairs, carry forward the traditional friendship, calibrate the course of China-Syria relations, and bring the bilateral relations back to the right track.

China stands ready to work with the international community to make contributions to Syria's security and stability, Wang said.

Al-Shibani noted that Syria is firmly committed to the one-China principle and stands ready to further strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation with China.

Following the talks, the two sides released a foreign ministers' joint statement.