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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while visiting Saudi Arabia, made an appeal on Saturday to China, a partner of Iran, to utilize its influence in the Middle East to promote stability.
During his visit, Blinken had a productive one-hour telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as confirmed by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
“Our message to China was that we believe it’s in our mutual interest to prevent the escalation of conflict,” Miller told reporters on Blinken’s plane en route from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi. “We suggested that it would be beneficial if China could leverage its influence.”
China enjoys a cordial relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza and responsible for recent attacks within Israel, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization that could potentially open a second front against Israel.
In response, Wang emphasized that the United States should “play a constructive and responsible role in redirecting the situation towards a political resolution as soon as possible,” according to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry.
“When addressing international hot-spot issues, major countries must uphold objectivity and fairness, maintain composure and restraint, and lead by example in adhering to international law,” Wang added.
The Chinese foreign minister also called for the prompt organization of an international peace conference to facilitate the development of a broad consensus.
Wang reiterated that the fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue lies in the implementation of a ‘two-state solution.’ It’s worth noting that China’s official statements on the conflict have not specifically mentioned Hamas in their condemnations of violence, drawing criticism from some Western officials who deemed their response insufficient.
Although the United States views China as its primary global competitor, both nations have been striving to stabilize their relationship, with Blinken making a rare visit to Beijing in June. Miller underlined that the Middle East is one area where the two powers can collaborate effectively.
The phone call also encompassed discussions on China-US relations, which have been strained in recent years due to various complex trade and geopolitical issues. However, Wang suggested there were encouraging signs of improvement.
“China and the United States have recently engaged in a series of high-level exchanges, and bilateral relations seem to have ceased their decline and are stabilizing,” Wang noted. “This development has been welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community.”
