A new proposal to end the conflict in Syria was presented Thursday by China, one of the Syrian government’s few foreign defenders, which calls for a phased-in truce, the establishment of a transitional authority, and an intensified international response to the humanitarian crisis afflicting millions of Syrians.

It was unclear whether the proposal differed substantially from a plan that international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is formulating to end the 20-month-old conflict. But it appeared to reflect concern by Chinese leaders that their consistent support for the legitimacy of the government of President Bashar Assad had strained China’s relations with other Arab countries that have been pushing for Assad’s removal.