BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — On the U.S.-Iran situation, the priority is to safeguard and implement the memorandum of understanding, maintain the momentum of negotiations, and work for an early comprehensive agreement agreed by both the United States and Iran, accepted by regional countries, and welcomed by the international community, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday.
Wang made the remarks when meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Beijing, adding the current ceasefire remains fragile, but talking is better than fighting, and dialogue is better than confrontation.
China welcomes the launch of U.S.-Iran negotiations, said Wang, adding China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to contribute to easing tensions and lasting peace and stability in the region. China is also willing to support Saudi Arabia in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs, and join hands to uphold the authority of the United Nations and build a more just and equitable global governance system.
On bilateral relations, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Saudi Arabia is an important member of Arab and Islamic countries, and an indispensable important force in the multipolarization of the world.
Wang said China has always regarded Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner that treats each other as equals, respects and trusts each other, and pursues win-win cooperation. The China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership, since its establishment a decade ago, has become a model of win-win cooperation among Global South countries, he added.
China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Saudi Arabia, and give full play to the strategic guiding role of the leaders of both countries in growing China-Saudi relations, said Wang, calling on both sides to make full use of the high-level joint committee, to plan in a coordinated way and advance pragmatic cooperation in all fields.
He went on to say that the two sides should leverage complementary advantages, optimize the trade structure, scale up two-way investment, promote green development, and support each other’s modernization.
The Saudi foreign minister said that the Saudi side highly cherishes relations with China and firmly abides by the one-China principle. He said people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China will be strengthened, and that pragmatic cooperation in fields such as investment, finance, energy and artificial intelligence will be deepened.
Saudi Arabia supports the series of major global initiatives proposed by China, and stands ready to engage in close multilateral coordination with China and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said.
The Saudi side appreciates the constructive role China has played in promoting the de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East, and looks forward to working with China to bring peace and stability to the region at an early date, he said.
