Beijing urges Iran, US to rebuild negotiations

Foreign Minister Wang Yi encouraged Iran and the United States on Wednesday to act rationally and exercise restraint, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and rebuild the negotiation mechanism, saying that the continued prolongation of the US-Iran conflict is not in the common interest of the parties concerned and the international community.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

Since Israel and the US launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb 28, the two foreign ministers have spoken by phone several times. Wednesday's talks marked their second in-person meeting in Beijing since then. They also met in Kyrgyzstan in July.

Signed by Iran and the US on June 18 following negotiations facilitated by Pakistan, the MoU launched a 60-day window for reaching a final agreement. The window expired on Aug 17, with the two sides nowhere close to determining how to move forward.

Wang urged the US and Iran to conduct substantive consultations on their respective concerns on the basis of the understandings reached so far.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China is ready to play a constructive role in resolving international disputes, he said.

Describing China and Iran as comprehensive strategic partners, he said that China stands ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran and help safeguard the country's legitimate rights and interests.

Wang expressed support for dialogue between Iran and the Gulf countries, adding that all sides should respect each other's territorial sovereignty and national security, as well as safeguard the common interests of the region in a constructive manner.

He also called on all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, safeguard the security and smooth operation of international shipping routes and maintain the stability of international energy transportation, as well as industrial and supply chains.

China does not want tensions in the region to spill over further into Yemen and the Red Sea, Wang noted, calling on all parties to stop further complicating the situation and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations.

Wang said that the current situation once again demonstrates that the existing security architecture in the Middle East is incomplete and needs to be reformed and strengthened.

During his visit to Egypt earlier this month, President Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposal on building a new security architecture in the Middle East via upholding a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

China welcomes the useful explorations made by regional countries in this regard, Wang said.

Noting that China's policy toward Iran remains consistent and stable, he said China has always stood for fairness and justice at the UN Security Council and other multilateral platforms, opposed the use of force and upheld the norms governing international relations.

As a responsible major country, China will continue to contribute to peace and stability, promote talks for peace and uphold fairness and justice in the Middle East, he added.

Diplomatic channels

Araghchi said that Iran does not want the conflict to continue and hopes to return to diplomatic channels while firmly safeguarding its rights and interests. He said that Iran believes the Islamabad MoU remains valid, adding that Iran has reached an arrangement with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and that the US should honor its commitments.

He added that Iran is ready to engage in dialogue and consultations with regional countries, establish and develop good-neighborly relations, and work for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Araghchi welcomed and supported the four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East and the four-point proposal on promoting common security in the region put forward by Xi. The Iranian foreign minister expressed Iran's readiness to strengthen cooperation with China within this framework and its expectation that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Realistic option

Experts said that the volatile situation in the Middle East has seriously affected international peace and development, and seeking a solution through diplomatic channels remains a realistic option.

Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Iran's reaffirmation of the memorandum's validity has kept a window open for future political engagement between the two sides. All parties should seize the opportunity to restart political dialogue rather than intensify military confrontation and economic coercion, Li said.

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, said that China has been actively promoting peace talks since the conflict began. China does not pursue geopolitical self-interest or bloc confrontation and takes into account the reasonable security concerns of all parties, he said, adding that its initiatives offer a viable path toward addressing the security dilemma in the Middle East.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn