ISLAMABAD: China has expressed support for Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to a conflict that has destabilized the region and shaken global energy markets, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated.
Speaking at a regular press conference, the spokesperson said Beijing "welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and supports Pakistan in making an active mediation effort." She also called upon all relevant parties to "seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict."
The conflict, which has "caused heavy casualties and damage, [is] hitting the security and stability of regional countries and impacting the world economy and energy security," she stated.
Beijing has pursued its own diplomatic track. According to Mao Ning, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia, and Gulf states since hostilities began. China's Special Envoy to the Middle East also traveled to the region to mediate directly. Last week, China and Pakistan jointly issued a five-point peace initiative, which Mao Ning stated embodied "the international consensus for ceasefire and peace."
Beijing was direct in assigning blame. "The root cause of the conflict is the US-Israeli launch of military attacks against Iran in violation of international law," the Chinese spokesperson said. She called for an immediate cessation of military operations and a return to negotiations.
A 45-day ceasefire framework remains under consideration, with Pakistani officials leading negotiations and working to reopen the strait amid continued airstrikes and regional escalation, according to AFP.
The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian strategic sites, killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on regional military bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz.
