Chinese, French envoys discuss Middle East tensions, call for peace

Zhai Jun, China's special envoy for the Middle East issue, met French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary on Tuesday, with both sides exchanging views on tensions in the Middle East.

Lortholary said France was deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in the region and its negative impact on the global economy, adding that a five-point initiative proposed by China and Pakistan to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East was broadly aligned with France's position.

He said France was willing to maintain coordination with China to help restore peace and stability.

Zhai said the ongoing conflict kept intensifying and spilling over, threatening regional peace and stability while disrupting global economic and energy security.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and France should uphold fairness and justice, work together to promote a ceasefire, and support parties in returning to dialogue and negotiations, he added.

(Cover: Smoke rises following a US-Israeli air strike in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. /VCG)