Foreign ministers’ meeting in Beijing sees five-point initiative for ceasefire in Middle East

Against the backdrop of escalating hostilities, China and Pakistan unveiled a five-point initiative to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region, with the immediate cessation of hostilities and an early start to peace talks at its core.

The initiative was put forward during talks in Beijing between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on March 31. It also highlighted the need to protect the security of nonmilitary targets and shipping lanes and uphold the primacy of the United Nations Charter.

According to the Chinese readout, the two countries urged an immediate ceasefire and the utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading, saying that humanitarian assistance must be allowed into all war-affected areas.

Stressing that “dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts”, the two nations said that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and Gulf states must be safeguarded.

They expressed support for relevant parties in initiating talks, saying that all sides should commit to a peaceful resolution of disputes and refrain from the use or threat of force during peace talks.

The two sides also stressed that the principle of protecting civilians in armed conflict should be observed. They called on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, fully adhere to international humanitarian law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination, and power facilities, as well as peaceful nuclear infrastructures such as nuclear power plants.

Describing the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters as an important global shipping route for goods and energy, Beijing and Islamabad called for parties to protect the security of ships and crew members currently stranded in the strait, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage as soon as possible.

Both countries also said that true multilateralism should be practiced and the primacy of the UN strengthened. They voiced support for concluding a pact to establish a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Dar’s visit on March 31 marked his second trip to China this year and the latest high-level diplomatic exchange between the two neighbors since the outbreak of the conflict. The two foreign ministers had already spoken twice by phone this month on the situation in the Middle East.

The March 31 meeting followed Dar’s hosting of a quadrilateral ministerial meeting in Islamabad that involved Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt.

During the talks, Wang said that Pakistan’s mediation is in the common interest of all parties, and China expects it to play a unique and important role in helping ease tensions and restore peace talks.

The US-Israel-Iran conflict is now passing the five-week mark, with fighting continuing to intensify, threatening global energy supplies and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

“Against this backdrop, the mediation efforts of China and Pakistan have taken on added importance”, said Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.

He described the five-point initiative as balanced and comprehensive, saying that it takes into account the most pressing concerns of all parties at this stage and helps create conditions for a political settlement.

Contact the writers at zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn