Beijing plays a role in Kabul peace talks

China is playing a more active role in hot regional issues, as the first round of four-party talks on Afghanistan was held in Islamabad on Monday.

The meeting came one day after Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Ming returned from a Middle East mediation trip following the abrupt breaking of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing on Monday that Zhang had told the two countries to "stay calm and restrained" and ease the tension.