In a meeting with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani in Beijing on Friday, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, emphasized that the Middle East should no longer be a geopolitical arena for great powers. He stressed that the fate of the region should be in the hands of its people.
Wang, who also serves as the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed China’s consistent support for the people of the Middle East in independently shaping their development paths. He expressed China’s backing for Middle East countries collaborating to address regional security issues and encouraged Saudi Arabia and Iran to continue improving their relations.
The first meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran trilateral joint committee concluded in Beijing on Friday. Wang expressed China’s willingness to use this trilateral platform to strengthen the friendship between Saudi Arabia and Iran, contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East.
During the meeting, Wang proposed three suggestions for advancing the process of improving relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Firstly, he stressed the importance of adhering to the strategic decision of reconciliation, urging both nations to build trust through dialogue for a lasting and comprehensive friendly relationship. Secondly, he called for further advancements in relations, encouraging cooperation and exchanges in various areas such as economy, trade, security, and people-to-people interactions. Lastly, Wang emphasized the rejection of external interference in the region, asserting that the fate of the Middle East should be determined by its people.
Both Saudi Arabia and Iran expressed their commitment to the full implementation of the Beijing Agreement reached in March. The three nations expressed concerns over the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River, calling for an immediate cessation of military actions and sustainable assistance to civilians. They opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians and emphasized that any arrangements concerning the future of Palestine should reflect the will of the Palestinian people.
Wang stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian aid, and the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. China supports Saudi Arabia and Iran in jointly advocating for a stronger unified position among Islamic countries on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Elkhereiji and Bagheri thanked China for hosting the trilateral meeting, expressing welcome and support for China’s greater role in the development of the Middle East. On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29, China announced practical actions, including releasing a paper outlining its position on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Palestinian Ambassador to China Fariz Mahdawi appreciated China’s fair stance and positive role in addressing the Palestine issue during a commemoration event in Beijing.