China's Foreign Minister Urges Sustained Ceasefire in Gulf Region

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in the Gulf region on Tuesday (26 May). During a meeting with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Wang stated that China, as a good friend and partner of Gulf states, sincerely hopes the Gulf and Middle East can swiftly return to peace and stability. The conflict, which should never have happened in the first place, has no justification for prolongation, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wang was at the United Nations headquarters in New York to lead a high-level UN Security Council meeting on upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the international system centred on the UN. ‘The top priority is to push for a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire,’ said China’s top diplomat. ‘The international community must redouble efforts to promote peace and work together to achieve de-escalation, particularly opposing actions that inflame the situation or heighten tensions,’ he added. China supports mediation efforts by Pakistan and other nations and is ready to closely coordinate with Bahrain and other Security Council members to ensure the council remains on the right path for political resolution and joint efforts towards lasting peace in the Middle East, Wang stated. Zayani said his country appreciates China’s active efforts to promote ceasefire and peace in the Middle East and Gulf region, and hopes China will play a larger role.