China is willing to continue working with Russia within the framework of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, maintain timely communication on major issues, and make joint efforts to help reduce tensions in the Middle East, safeguard regional peace and stability, and uphold global security, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.
Wang, who is also a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, made these remarks during a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should uphold fairness and justice on matters of principle, adopt an objective and balanced approach, and seek greater understanding and support from the international community, Wang said.
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Emphasizing that China has consistently advocated for the resolution of international and regional flashpoints through dialogue and negotiation, Wang said that the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, that hostilities are escalating, and that the fundamental solution to ensuring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz lies in quickly reaching a ceasefire and ending the war.
For his part, Lavrov stated that Russia is following the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East with great concern.
Regarding the ongoing conflict and the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, Lavrov stated that Russia believes military operations must cease immediately and that efforts must return to the path of a political and diplomatic solution to address the root causes of the conflict, with the UN Security Council playing a constructive role in this context.
Russia stands ready to maintain close communication and coordination with China and to continue its efforts and make its voice heard in support of a ceasefire and an end to the war, he added.