Chinese, Saudi FMs hold phone talks on Middle East's regional situation, bilateral ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, held phone talks on Monday regarding the regional situation in the Middle East as well as China-Saudi Arabia ties.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China firmly opposes the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which is a serious violation of international law.

At the same time, Wang said, China has noted Iran's statement that its retaliatory actions are not targeting any neighboring countries and its willingness to continue pursuing a good-neighborly and friendly policy.

The current situation is at a crossroads between escalating tensions or returning to normalcy, Wang said.

Wang said that China appreciates Saudi Arabia's emphasis on resolving issues through diplomatic means, and that China is willing to work together with Saudi Arabia to avoid further escalation of confrontation in the Middle East.

Wang stressed that the current escalation of tensions is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict, and the pressing task now is to strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728, achieve an unconditional and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, take effective measures to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance.

The Palestinian people have long been denied their legitimate national rights, marking the most prolonged injustices in contemporary times. It is the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli issue and the core of the Middle East issue, Wang said.

The direction of solutions is implementing the "two-state solution" and establishing an independent State of Palestine, restoring the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights, and realizing peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, said Wang.

The international community should take more proactive actions, support Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and promote the convening of a larger, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to establish a timetable and roadmap for implementing the "two-state solution," said Wang.

China is willing to enhance communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia and make joint efforts to this end, said Wang.

Saudi Arabia is an important partner of China in the Middle East, said Wang, adding that China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia, follow through on the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, continuously deepen political mutual trust, and promote bilateral relations to higher levels.

For his part, Faisal said that Saudi Arabia and China share a highly consistent stance on the current situation in Middle East. Both countries advocate for resolving differences through dialogue and are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.

Faisal said that Saudi Arabia, deeply concerned about the current escalating situation in the Middle East, hopes that the situation will return to the normal track as soon as possible.

Noting that Saudi Arabia highly expects China to play an active and important role in this regard, Faisal said the Saudi side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to promote an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, start the implementation of the "two-state solution," and help achieve stability in the Middle East at an early date.

Saudi Arabia fully trusts China, and is willing to push for the sustainable development of bilateral cooperation, he added.

Chinese, Saudi FMs hold phone talks on Middle East's regional situation, bilateral ties

The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.

During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.

The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.

David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.

"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.

Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.

The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.

"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.

Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.

"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.

Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange