"War Must End Immediately": China and Pakistan Announce Principles for Middle East Peace

Announcement of the "Five Initiatives for Restoring Peace and Stability"

Pakistan, acting as a mediator in the China-Iran war, has announced a set of principles aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East.

Wang Yi, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, visited China on March 31 at the invitation of Wang Yi, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister. After holding talks in Beijing, the two parties unveiled a document titled "The Five Initiatives by China and Pakistan for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East."

The five initiatives consist of: ▲ Immediate cessation of hostilities ▲ Prompt commencement of peace talks ▲ Protection of non-military targets ▲ Guaranteeing the safety of navigation routes ▲ Upholding the supreme value of the United Nations Charter.

Through the document, the two countries stated, "China and Pakistan call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the war, and the prevention of further escalation," adding, "Humanitarian aid should be allowed into all areas affected by the war."

They continued, "The sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and Gulf countries must be protected, and dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable paths to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the initiation of negotiations among the parties involved, and all countries should pledge to resolve disputes peacefully. During peace talks, each party to the conflict must not use force or threaten to use force."

The statement also noted, "The Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters are critical international cargo and energy trade routes," and called on all countries to ensure the safety of ships and crew present in the Strait of Hormuz, to enable the prompt passage of civilian commercial vessels, and to restore normal transit through the strait as quickly as possible.

Additionally, the document includes a commitment by China and Pakistan to practice "genuine multilateralism" and to work together to strengthen the important role of the United Nations.

Pakistan has taken on the role of mediator between the United States and Iran following the outbreak of the current Middle East war. After a four-nation foreign ministers’ meeting with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt held in Pakistan on March 29, Minister Dar announced that talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the Middle East war would soon be held in Pakistan.

On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran, facilitated by Pakistan, were proceeding smoothly. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on March 30, regarding the regional ceasefire talks hosted by Pakistan, "The meeting is taking place within a framework established independently by Pakistan, and Iran did not participate," adding, "The matters currently being discussed merely reflect the United States’ willingness to negotiate, as conveyed through intermediaries."

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