ISLAMABAD: China on Wednesday urged countries to join a joint peace initiative with Pakistan to help ease tensions in the Middle East, warning that the ongoing war in Iran is increasingly disrupting global energy supplies and trade, jeopardizing the world economy.
The appeal follows a five-point proposal put forward by Beijing and Islamabad earlier this week after Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wangi Yi discussed regional developments in Beijing.
The initiative called for an immediate ceasefire, the launch of peace talks, protection of civilian and commercial infrastructure, including shipping lanes and adherence to the United Nations Charter.
The war, which began on Feb. 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation, has roiled global energy markets after Tehran’s decision to shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
“China and Pakistan, as important countries in the Global South, voiced a rational and just position in the hope of building up consensus and pooling stronger effort in the international community to contribute to easing the ongoing tense situation,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.
“The initiative is open and we welcome response and participation of all countries and international organizations,” she said.
China would continue to maintain close communication with Pakistan and other parties to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire and ending hostilities, she added.
Mao said the conflict’s spillover effects had dealt an increasingly severe blow to regional and global stability.
China and Pakistan demanded the start of peace talks in the Middle East “as soon as possible,” with their joint statement saying on Tuesday that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Iran and Gulf states should be safeguarded.
