BEIJING: 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.
“As important countries in the Global South, China and Pakistan have voiced a rational and just position in the hope of building up greater consensus and pooling stronger efforts in the international community to contribute to easing the current tense situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.
