China has expressed its willingness to continue collaborating with Russia at the United Nations Security Council to help ease tensions in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Sunday.
Wang emphasized that the key to resolving navigation challenges in the Strait of Hormuz lies in achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible. He reiterated China’s consistent stance advocating for political solutions to hotspot conflicts through dialogue and negotiation.
This exchange between the foreign ministers occurred ahead of a scheduled UN Security Council vote next week on a Bahraini resolution aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Highlighting their roles as permanent members of the Security Council, Wang urged China and Russia to maintain an objective and balanced perspective, seeking broader international understanding and support.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the two ministers discussed strategies to secure a rapid ceasefire and initiate political-diplomatic dialogue. The statement also expressed satisfaction with the alignment of Russia’s and China’s positions on many global issues, including the situation surrounding Iran, particularly in response to what they described as unprovoked aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran.
In a significant development, China has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf region and the broader Middle East. The ongoing conflict, which has lasted over a month, has severely disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for oil and gas shipments worldwide.
