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Beijing Welcomes Improvement of Saudi-Iranian Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
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Beijing Welcomes Improvement of Saudi-Iranian Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with the heads of the two negotiating delegations, Saudi Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban and Iranian Ali Shamkhani, after signing the agreement document on March 10 (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed Beijing’s satisfaction with the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to improve relations and lead a “wave of reconciliation” in the Middle East, since the Chinese-brokered agreement five months ago.

China “appreciates the correct decision made by the Iranian side,” Wang Yi said in a statement on Monday, adding that Beijing would continue to support the Middle East countries to explore development, in line with their own national conditions.

The minister pointed to the stalled negotiations between Iran and major powers on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. He believed that only by returning to the comprehensive and effective implementation of the nuclear deal can a fundamental solution to the Iranian nuclear issue be reached, Reuters reported.

Wang Yi directly supervised the intense Saudi-Iranian negotiations that took place in March, between Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, and Ali Shamkhani, former Secretary-General of the Iranian National Security Council, under the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese foreign minister’s statement came hours after a phone call between Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on the memorandum of comprehensive cooperation between the two sides. The Iranian Foreign Ministry quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying that the comprehensive plan for cooperation between Iran and China for a period of 25 years “is on the right track.”

The agreement came days after Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the first by a senior Iranian official to Riyadh after 7 years of diplomatic rupture between the two countries.

China played a pivotal role in signing the agreement to resume relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a press conference on Monday that the Saudi-Iranian joint economic committee would convene soon, noting that the two sides discussed trade and customs cooperation.

He added that discussions between Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Amir-Abdollahian were “diverse, detailed and positive”, adding that the talks were progressing and could represent a new horizon in Iranian-Saudi relations.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, along with rising regional tensions, took center stage at the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit in Doha, which began on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia urged countries to back the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key step toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the ACD summit and highlighted how continued violence in the region is disrupting international trade and fueling political tensions, which threaten investments and economic cooperation.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He called for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts to ensure the region’s prosperity.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said, reminding that the situation has prompted the Kingdom to work with “brothers and allies in establishing a Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution.”
He stressed that the current unrest in Palestine and Lebanon is a major barrier to economic and commercial development in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for resistance groups.
“The Zionist enemy will be punished, and we will keep supporting the resistance until Palestine is liberated,” said Pezeshkian.
Also speaking at the ACD summit, he emphasized: “Those who violate human rights must know that resistance is strong and cannot be eliminated.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s backing for Palestinian resistance.
After meeting with a Hamas delegation in Doha, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s ongoing actions had led Iran’s military to deliver a decisive response.
“Israel couldn’t commit these crimes without backing from the US and Europe. If Israel makes any mistake against Iran, it will face a much stronger retaliation than Tuesday’s attack,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the summit, Sheikh Tamim said: “Qatar has long warned about the dangers of not addressing Israel’s crimes.”
He pointed to the escalating violence in Gaza, noting that true security can only be achieved through a just peace, which includes creating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
He stressed that Qatar will continue to support the Palestinian people in their fight for their legitimate rights.
“Israel’s relentless attacks on civilians in Gaza and other occupied areas have killed over 41,000 innocent people. What’s happening is genocide, and Gaza is being made uninhabitable to force its residents out,” said Sheikh Tamim.
He also condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, accusing Israel of using international inaction to expand settlements in the West Bank and prepare for annexation.
“We believe in de-escalating tensions and respecting nations’ sovereignty,” he added, stressing that Israel is taking advantage of global silence to push its agenda in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called for urgent international intervention to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
He warned that Israel’s attacks have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
“Peace cannot coexist with occupation, genocide, and the denial of the Palestinian people’s rights,” Abbas reaffirmed at the ACD summit.