Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, engaged in a phone conversation on Monday to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and the bilateral relations between China and Saudi Arabia.
During the call, Wang, who also serves as a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed China’s firm opposition to the recent attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, Syria. He emphasized that such actions constitute a serious violation of international law. Wang acknowledged Iran’s stance, which underscores that its response does not target any neighboring country and reaffirms its commitment to maintaining good-neighborly relations.
Assessing the current situation, Wang highlighted the critical choice between further deterioration and a return to normalcy. He commended Saudi Arabia’s commitment to resolving issues through diplomatic channels and expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Saudi Arabia to prevent further escalation of tensions.
Wang contextualized the recent escalation as a consequence of the spillover from the Gaza conflict. He stressed the urgent need to strictly adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 2728, calling for an immediate, unconditional, and enduring ceasefire to safeguard civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, Wang underscored the longstanding plight of the Palestinian people, emphasizing it as a persistent injustice in modern times and the fundamental issue underlying the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and broader Middle East dynamics. He advocated for the expeditious implementation of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. Wang asserted that achieving peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel hinges on these foundational principles.
