Zhai Jun met Ali Bagheri Kani in Iran, reaffirming Beijing’s willingness to strengthen bilateral relations while calling for political solutions to the continuing Middle East conflict.
China is stepping up its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, with its special envoy for regional affairs, Zhai Jun, meeting senior Iranian security official Ali Bagheri Kani during a visit to Iran.
According to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday, November 9, Zhai met Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and expressed Beijing’s willingness to promote further progress in relations between the two countries.
Zhai called for a focus on political solutions, urging a rational and pragmatic approach to the regional crisis and the early restoration of stability and development.
The meeting forms part of a wider diplomatic tour involving Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month, as Beijing seeks to strengthen communication with key regional governments and encourage efforts to reduce tensions. <Cite refs={[“turn974770search8″,”turn974770news1”]}/>
The visit follows a meeting on November 2 between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Bagheri Kani in Beijing. During their discussions, Wang said dialogue and negotiations offered the way forward as fighting continued and its consequences spread across the region. He also reaffirmed China’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and security.
On the same day, Wang held separate talks with Saudi National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, calling for an end to hostilities through negotiations and the protection of regional energy supplies and shipping routes. It was not immediately clear whether the Iranian and Saudi officials had any direct contact during their visits to Beijing. <Cite refs={[“turn974770search0″,”turn974770news13”]}/>
China’s diplomatic outreach has also included high-level discussions with Oman. President Xi Jinping recently hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing, where the two leaders discussed regional stability and cooperation.
Xi said the Middle East and Gulf region should not become an arena for rivalry among major powers. A joint statement following the visit called for the restoration of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and urged Washington and Tehran to return to dialogue. <Cite refs={[“turn974770news1″,”turn974770search10”]}/>
The renewed diplomatic activity comes amid continuing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with growing concerns over regional security, international shipping and global energy supplies.
China has significant economic and energy interests across the Middle East and has increasingly sought to position itself as a diplomatic participant in efforts to contain the crisis.
While Beijing has called for negotiations and an end to renewed military confrontation, it remains uncertain whether its latest diplomatic engagements will produce concrete progress towards a settlement.
