China is deeply saddened by the damage to Iran's cultural relics and historic sites in the war, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
The ongoing United States-Israel strikes have inflicted tremendous damage on numerous cherished cultural heritage sites across Iran. According to Iran's Cultural Heritage Ministry, more than 80 national and internationally recognized heritage sites have been damaged.
"World cultural heritage is precious wealth of all mankind. China is deeply saddened by the damage to Iran's cultural relics and historic sites in the war. We urge all warring parties, especially the United States and Israel, to immediately and completely cease military operations, start dialog and negotiations as soon as possible, and end this war that should not have happened at an early date," said Mao.
Iran, a country with a rich history spanning thousands of years, is home to 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and numerous other significant cultural relics.
China deeply saddened by damage to Iran's historical sites: spokeswoman
China deeply saddened by damage to Iran's historical sites: spokeswoman
China has been playing a key role in bringing a sense of stability to the world and continuing to promote globalization against a turbulent international backdrop, according to a British scholar as he gave his assessment of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) which lays out the country's development vision for the years ahead.
Renowned British scholar Martin Jacques, a former senior research fellow in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, shared his take on the recently approved outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, a key blueprint which maps out China's policy priorities through to the end of the decade.
The plan notes that China advocates practicing true multilateralism, upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
It says China will also seek to expand its global partnership network and guide the international order toward a more fair and just direction.
Despite current geopolitical tensions, Jacques says China is responding to a turbulent world full of uncertainties in a calm and rational manner.
"We are living in dangerous times, unpredictable times, and I think China has found a way in this new, difficult era, in the big power relationship [with the United States], to handle it in a calm way, not rise to the bait, and seek to, as far as possible, keep the relationship on a relatively even keel," he said.
China has also pledged to commit to openness and cooperation against the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, and has vowed to share opportunities and pursue common development with all countries.
Noting the wave of anti-free trade sentiment and protectionist policies which have emerged in the United States, particularly under the administrations of U.S. President Donald Trump, Jacques says that globalization will remain the prevailing trend and believes China has been able to find successful approaches to advance international cooperation amid the current challenges.
"I think globalization is the long-term historic trend. But that doesn't mean globalization is always in good health, it doesn't mean that it doesn't have setbacks. [We are] now in a period where globalization first of all, has been slowed and in key respects reversed, but at the same time we've seen it taking new forms. The Belt and Road Initiative is a very important form of globalization, and it's been very successful," he said.
China striving for stability against unpredictable int'l backdrop: British scholar
