BEIJING (The Thursday Times) — China urged Iran and Saudi Arabia to choose talks over war in back-to-back meetings in Beijing on Monday, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi warning that the Middle East “has again reached a critical crossroads between war and peace”.
“All parties should, in a spirit of reason and pragmatism, focus on a political solution rather than once again resorting to armed conflict,” Wang told Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a Chinese statement. He also said Beijing supported Tehran in “safeguarding its own sovereignty and security”. China had not announced the visit in advance.
Wang later met Saudi National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, who passed on a letter from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Xi Jinping. Wang said China hoped all sides could end hostilities through dialogue and safeguard the region’s energy and shipping lanes.
Xi also hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, on the first visit to China by an Omani head of state since the two established ties. He said the Middle East should not become a “wrestling ground for major-country rivalry and geopolitical conflicts”. In a joint statement, the sultan backed Chinese peace proposals and said he looked forward to a “greater role” for Beijing.
China said its Middle East envoy would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia later this month on “shuttle diplomacy” to promote peace talks.
The meetings come as fears grow of renewed fighting after Tuesday’s US midterm elections. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States still had to “take care of” one or two targets in Iran, and Tehran has warned of reprisals. Iran said on Monday that contacts with Washington were continuing after talks with Qatari mediators ended with no breakthrough.
