China ‘ready to cooperate’ with Russia to ease Middle East tension

Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China, at the United Nations Security Council in New York. (File/AFP)

• Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that their countries should adopt 'objective and balanced ‌approach'
• China says way to solve Strait of Hormuz situation is to achieve ceasefire as soon ‌as possible

BEIJING: China is willing to continue to cooperate with Russia at the UN Security Council and ​make efforts to cool down the Middle East situation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call on Sunday.
Wang said the fundamental way to resolve navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve a ‌ceasefire as soon ‌as possible, adding that China ​has ‌always ⁠advocated ​political settlement of ⁠hotspot issues through dialogue and negotiation.
The foreign ministers’ call came ahead of a UN Security Council vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
As permanent ⁠UNSC members, China and Russia ‌should “adopt an objective and balanced ‌approach and seek to ​win greater understanding and ‌support from the international community,” Wang told Lavrov, ‌according to a statement from his ministry.
A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said the ministers discussed ways to achieve a rapid ceasefire and “launch a political-diplomatic dialogue.”
“Satisfaction ‌was expressed at the coincidence in Russia’s and China’s approaches on most ⁠issues ⁠on the global agenda, including the situation around Iran, related to the unprovoked aggression of the US and Israel against that country,” it said.
China has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Gulf region and Middle East, urging an end to the fighting that has run for more than a month and largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, ​a critical shipping ​artery for oil and gas.