The Middle East and the Gulf region should not become a wrestling arena for major-country rivalry or geopolitical conflicts, President Xi Jinping said on Monday, reiterating China's commitment to working with Arab states and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to strive for lasting peace in the region.
Xi made the remarks during talks with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman, who was on a state visit to China from Sunday to Monday. This was the first visit to China by an Omani head of state since diplomatic ties were established 48 years ago.
Xi said that concerted efforts are needed by all parties to foster and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
China has consistently been committed to ending hostility and promoting peace in the Middle East, and hopes to contribute wisdom and solutions to resolving the region's security dilemmas, he said.
The nation will continue to advocate resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means and will support countries in the region in building a common homeland of good neighborliness, development, security and cooperation, Xi added.
He expressed China's willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with Oman and other Arab countries to work together toward restoring peace and tranquility in the region and achieving lasting security and stability.
The Omani sultan said China plays an indispensable leading role in maintaining world peace and stability.
Oman highly appreciates China's just stance on the Middle East issue and is willing to closely coordinate with China to uphold international law, advocate for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and jointly promote regional and global security and stability, he said.
In a joint statement released on Monday on deepening the China-Oman strategic partnership, both countries expressed their encouragement for the United States and Iran to adhere to peaceful options, achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities early, and resume dialogue and negotiations to reach a comprehensive agreement.
Both countries also maintain that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz should return to normal and safe navigation be restored, the statement said, and they agree to maintain communication related to the strait.
China has played a positive role on the Middle East issue. While meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in Beijing in April, Xi put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.
He called for adhering to the principle of peaceful coexistence, the principle of national sovereignty, the principle of international rule of law, and a coordinated approach to development and security.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, emphasizing that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solutions to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
All parties should seek political resolution of the conflict in a rational and pragmatic spirit, rather than resorting to military confrontation, Wang said, adding that China will continue to work with all parties to restore peace in the region.
Speaking at a regular news conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China will send its special envoy to the Middle East to visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month to implement the series of initiatives and proposals put forward by Xi on the Middle East issue.
Bilateral cooperation
During Monday's talks, the two heads of state pledged to promote bilateral ties. They witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in areas such as Beidou Navigation Satellite System application, industrial and supply chains, green development, local currency swaps, digital payments and digital currency.
Xi said that Sultan Haitham's visit will become an important chapter in the history of China-Oman relations, injecting strong momentum into the development of bilateral ties.
He said that expanding and deepening China-Oman relations is a strategic choice for both sides, and follows the trend of the times and historical development, and meets the common aspirations of the peoples.
China is committed to promoting high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening-up, which will bring greater opportunities to Oman and other countries worldwide, Xi said.
He expressed China's willingness to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Oman and be a stable and reliable partner in the energy sector, a partner with promising potential in investment, and a partner in fostering innovation.
Sultan Haitham said that under the strong leadership of President Xi, China has become a major political and economic country, making significant contributions to global prosperity.
Oman firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
