A Chinese diplomat has disclosed that his country is engaged in diplomatic mediation efforts to contain the US-Israeli-Iranian war, in cooperation with Pakistan, through a five-point initiative.
Chang Hua, the Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, stressed the need for the international community to adhere to an objective and fair stance to contain the escalation, saying the top priority is to achieve peace and promote negotiations.
He explained that his country's foreign minister has held phone calls with his counterparts in the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, as well as Iran, Israel, France, Germany, Egypt, and Türkiye, in addition to visits by Special Envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue to the Gulf countries.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hua said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, issued a joint five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region.
He explained that the initiative is based on three main pillars, which include, a ceasefire, the launch of negotiations, and the provision of guarantees, which means an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The diplomat stressed China's willingness to work with Middle Eastern countries to implement the Global Security Initiative, which contributes to restoring stability to the region, promoting security for its peoples, and supporting world peace.
Beijing Stands by Riyadh
Hua pointed out that China and Saudi Arabia have maintained communication and coordination regarding the situation in the region, explaining that Wang held two phone calls with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, while Saudi Arabia was the first stop for the visit of the Chinese Special Envoy.
He also said that Beijing supports the efforts of Riyadh and the Gulf countries to preserve their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Hua lauded the restraint shown by Saudi Arabia and its endeavor to achieve peace and prevent the expansion of the war, stressing his country's willingness to work with the Kingdom to restore stability in the region.
He also affirmed his country's rejection of any attack targeting the Gulf countries and its opposition to indiscriminate attacks that injure civilians, while supporting the legitimate security concerns of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Secures Energy Despite Hormuz Challenges
Hua explained that the war, which has been going on for more than a month, has had major repercussions on regional and world security, affecting the stability of global energy supplies, production chains, and international economic growth.
He affirmed that Saudi Arabia is a major supplier of crude oil to China, pointing to the deepening alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030 in recent years, with the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy as one of the most important pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
He added that China appreciates Saudi Arabia's positive role in maintaining the balance and stability of the global oil market, explaining that the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters represent a vital corridor for international energy and commodity trade, and that maintaining the security and stability of this region was in the interest of the international community.
He also called on all parties to intensify efforts to reduce escalation and avoid wider disruptions that may affect the security of the global economy and energy supplies.
