China welcomes the announcement by relevant parties on reaching a ceasefire arrangement on the war in Iran, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Mao's remarks came after she was asked for comments on the ceasefire agreement on the war in Iran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all conflict zones.
"First of all, China welcomes the announcement by relevant parties that they have reached a ceasefire arrangement. We support the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other countries. China has consistently advocated for an end to the war and the resolution of disputes through political and diplomatic means to ultimately achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region. China has also made its own efforts in this regard," said Mao.
China welcomes ceasefire arrangement on war in Iran: spokeswoman
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), calling the alliance unhelpful to the United States.
"NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again," Trump said in a Truth Social post after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte.
"Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!" Trump also said in his post.
Rutte is on a visit to Washington from Monday to Sunday for talks with Trump and senior U.S. officials, as divisions over the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran have sharpened tensions within the 77-year-old military alliance.
Speaking to U.S. media outlets, Rutte said that Trump "is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies," describing the talks as "very frank, very open."
Since the Iran war began, Trump demanded NATO allies join the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz, but was rejected. European countries like Spain and Italy even refused the U.S. military to use their airspace, which enraged Trump.
Trump on Monday sharpened his criticism of NATO, telling a White House press conference that some allies had gone "out of their way not to help" the United States in its war against Iran and once again describing the alliance as a "paper tiger."
In an interview early this month, he said he was "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the United States from the alliance.
The rift in the transatlantic alliance has widened during Trump's second term, fueled by his decision to launch the war on Iran, and earlier tensions over his push to take over Denmark's Greenland.
Trump renews criticism of NATO, calls alliance unhelpful to U.S.
