Wang Yi Had a Phone Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

On March 1st, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, had a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov upon request.

Wang Yi stated that under the promotion of China and Russia, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting yesterday on the current Iran situation. China consistently advocates respecting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and opposes the use of force in international relations. Attacks by the US and Israel during the Iran-U.S. negotiations on Iran are unacceptable; openly killing a sovereign country’s leader and inciting regime change are unacceptable. These actions violate international law and basic norms of international relations. Currently, the conflict has spread to the entire Persian Gulf, and the situation in the Middle East could be pushed into a dangerous abyss. China is highly concerned about this.

Wang Yi pointed out that China’s position is: First, to immediately cease military actions to prevent the conflict from spreading and spilling over, and to avoid the situation becoming uncontrollable. China values the security of Gulf countries and supports their restraint. Second, to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible. All parties should strongly urge peace and oppose war, urging the involved parties to quickly return to the track of dialogue and negotiations. Third, to jointly oppose unilateral actions. Unauthorised military strikes on sovereign states without UN Security Council approval undermine the peace established after World War II. The international community should send a clear and firm message to oppose the world reverting to the law of the jungle.

Lavrov stated that the US and Israel’s military strikes on Iran severely undermine stability in the Middle East. Russia shares China’s stance and is willing to strengthen coordination and communication with China, through platforms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to send a clear signal, calling for an immediate stop to the war and a return to diplomatic negotiations.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)