China urges peace talks to end US-Israel war with Iran

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the international community to actively promote dialogue to bring peace to the Middle East and expressed firm opposition to attacks on civilians and civilian facilities.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held separate phone talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.

During the talks, Egyptian foreign minister expressed deep concern about the current situation, saying that if energy and power facilities are attacked and paralyzed, it will lead to chaos throughout the region.

Abdelatty said that the Egyptian side is communicating with all parties and actively promoting negotiations to cool down the situation. Noting that Egypt and China are comprehensive strategic partners, Abdelatty said that Egypt is willing to maintain close coordination with China and jointly enhance diplomatic efforts to prevent the region and the world from falling into turmoil.

For his part, Wang said that both China and Egypt, as responsible countries, oppose military operations without authorization from the UN Security Council, oppose attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and do not approve of affecting the Gulf countries.

Wang said that a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged as both the United States and Iran are signaling their readiness to negotiate. If this war continues, it will only bring more casualties and unnecessary losses, leading to further spillover of the situation, he said.

Stressing that as long as there is dialogue, there is hope for peace, Wang said that the actions of the Security Council should help ease the situation and promote dialogue, and help prevent the expansion of the war instead of giving a pass to the use of force.

Noting that China supports Egypt in continuing to play a mediating role in promoting the resumption of peace talks and the cessation of the war, Wang said that China is also willing to continue to make constructive efforts for this purpose.

During talks with the Turkish foreign minister, Wang stressed that the right and wrong of the conflict in the Middle East are clear, and the international community should adopt an objective and impartial position.

Noting that the conflict is now rapidly spilling over and spreading across the region, Wang said the top priority is to actively promote peace talks, seize opportunities for peace, and work toward de-escalation.

China supports countries in the region in remaining calm and responding rationally to the current situation from a long-term perspective based on fundamental interests, Wang said.

China also supports Türkiye in playing a constructive role in promoting the resumption of negotiations, Wang added.

Fidan said that Türkiye and China are highly consistent in their positions regarding the current situation in the Middle East, and both countries oppose launching military attacks without authorization from the UN Security Council and oppose further escalation of the conflict.

China has always been committed to maintaining regional and world peace, and it is believed that China will continue to play an important role, he said. Türkiye is willing to make joint efforts with China to promote a ceasefire and bring the world back to the right track of peaceful development, he added.

The two sides also exchanged views on other regional issues.

(With input from Xinhua)