U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is heading to China amid a looming showdown at the U.N. Security Council over two competing resolutions on Syria.

Mr. Ban's trip will include talks with President Hu Jintao, and his arrival comes as the official People's Daily newspaper ran a commentary rejecting foreign intervention in the Syrian crisis.

Syria is also a key topic Tuesday in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting talks with U.N. envoy Kofi Annan.

China and Russia have vetoed previous Western-backed Security Council resolutions calling for tough action against Syria.

A draft resolution by Britain, France, Germany and the United States would renew the U.N. observer mission for 45 days and threaten Syria with sanctions if it does not stop using heavy weapons against rebels and civilians.

A Russian proposal would renew the mission for 90 days without the threat of sanctions.