UN chief held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao as he seeks to press Beijing to back tougher action on Syria hours ahead of a key Security Council vote

UN chief Ban Ki-moon held talks Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao as he seeks to press Beijing to back tougher action on Syria hours ahead of a key Security Council vote.
  
Ban has already urged China to use its influence to back a peace plan by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, who is calling on the Security Council to order "consequences" for any failure to carry out his six-point plan.
  
China, one of five veto-wielding members of the Security Council, has twice joined with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main ally Russia in blocking resolutions critical of Damascus and has repeatedly warned against outside intervention in Syria.
  
Following talks with Hu, Ban will also meet Vice President Xi Jinping -- set to become China's president next year -- as well as top foreign policy advisor Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, diplomats said.