Van Rompuy spoke following an EU-China summit in Beijing at which Syria and other international issues were discussed on Thursday.
"There is no military solution for this conflict," Van Rompuy warned.
Van Rompuy said he discussed with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ways to "take a more active role together in securing international development" to alleviate conflicts.
He said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a role to play in formulating actions to mitigate the conflict such as destruction of chemical weapons.
Nearly three years of foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria has taken its toll on the lives of more than 100,000 people, according to statistics compiled by the United Nations. Millions have also been displaced due to the turmoil.
The UN has repeatedly warned about the humanitarian situation in the country, saying that over nine million people are in need of urgent aid due to the crisis.
Over four million other Syrians will be forced out of their homes in 2014, the UN reported on October 7.
NTJ/SHI