Wang Yi, the nation's top diplomat, met with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council in Beijing on Monday.

Wang said that China will follow the initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping on easing the situation in the Middle East.

Beijing will also work together with all parties continuously to restore regional peace, he said.

"China supports Iran in safeguarding its own sovereignty and security," he told Bagheri Kani, according to a statement from Beijing.

"All parties should... in a spirit of reason and pragmatism, focus on a political solution rather than once again resorting to armed conflict," Wang added.

China is to send its Middle East envoy to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia as a part of "shuttle diplomacy visits... aimed at promoting peace talks [and] easing tensions", a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a regular news briefing.

Earlier, President Xi had said the Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry. (Xinhua/AFP)


Edited by Aaron Tam