BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State John Kerry has met his French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Paris, ahead of a Friends of meeting in Rome on Thursday.

In a joint news conference, Kerry said Syria’s opposition needs more help in its struggle against President Bashar al-Assad and Washington wants to find ways to speed up a political transition.

The Washington Post has reported this week that the is considering a shift in policy and could send the rebels body armour and armed vehicles and provide military training. The report said US officials still oppose providing arms.

, Syria’s former colonial ruler, has been among the strongest supporters of the rebels, and French President Francois Hollande was the first Western leader to recognise their leadership.

Kerry, who has deep family ties in France, is in Paris as part of an 11-day trip around Europe and the Middle East. That is his first official outing as secretary of state.

(Source: CNTV.cn)