Heated China-Arab Hotline... Xi Jinping Talks with Presidents of Iran and Iraq

China, a Leading Anti-US Nation, Expresses Willingness to Cooperate on Afghan Issues
Pakistan and Turkey Also Promise to Strengthen Communication... China Expands Influence in the Middle East

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese President Xi Jinping held phone calls with the presidents of Iran and Iraq to discuss the Afghanistan issue. Iran and Iraq are representative anti-American Islamic countries and neighbors of Afghanistan.

Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, also exchanged views on the Afghan situation with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Turkey, both Islamic countries. The dominant analysis is that the Chinese leadership's diplomatic campaign to expand influence in Afghanistan, from which the U.S. has withdrawn, has officially begun.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 19th, Chinese state media such as the People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency reported that President Xi held discussions on the Afghan issue the previous day with Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran, and Barham Salih, President of Iraq.

President Xi told President Raisi of Iran, "Over the more than 50 years since establishing diplomatic relations, China and Iran have maintained friendly relations," adding, "No matter how the international and regional situations change, China will firmly continue to develop its friendly relations with Iran." The international and regional situations mentioned by President Xi appear to be referring to Afghanistan.

President Xi also stated, "China supports Iran's safeguarding of its national sovereignty and dignity," and firmly opposes external (U.S.) interference.

President Xi particularly emphasized, "China supports Iran's reasonable demands regarding the Iran nuclear comprehensive agreement," and expressed willingness to "strengthen coordination and cooperation on Iran and regional issues to promote regional security and stability."

President Xi then spoke with President Salih of Iraq. Iraq was the country that served as the pretext for the U.S. involvement in the Afghan war. In the call with President Salih, President Xi began by noting that Iraq is the first Arab country with which China established diplomatic relations, and said, "China has maintained a friendly and pragmatic cooperative relationship, actively participating in Iraq's economic reconstruction," emphasizing, "China is a true friend of Iraq."

President Xi continued, "China is willing to jointly promote peace and development in the Middle East with Iraq and other allied countries and to build a community sharing a future for mankind," proposing, "We hope for Iraq's long-term stability and prosperity and to further develop bilateral relations."

Presidents Raisi and Salih responded, stating, "We are willing to jointly respond to China and the international and regional situations to safeguard world peace and stability," and "We firmly support China's positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong."

The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, expressed deep interest in the Afghanistan issue by publishing the details of President Xi's calls with the presidents of Iran and Iraq on its front page.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Foreign Minister Wang also held separate phone calls with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevl?t ?avu?o?lu to discuss future Afghan issues. Minister Wang emphasized, "The risk of civil war in Afghanistan still exists, and peaceful reconstruction may not proceed smoothly," adding, "The international community must support the unity of the Afghan people for Afghanistan to open a new chapter in its history."

Minister Wang further stated, "The Afghan people should be given the opportunity to decide their own national destiny," while requesting that China, Pakistan, and Turkey jointly work to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a gathering place for terrorist groups.

Both the Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers expressed their intention to strengthen communication with China going forward, including establishing a multilateral coordination mechanism encompassing countries neighboring Afghanistan regarding the Afghan issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.