Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday that China supports maintaining the momentum of ceasefire and peace talks, which serves the fundamental interests of the Iranian people and reflects the shared expectations of countries in the region and the international community.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when speaking to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi over phone.
Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments of Iran-U.S. negotiations and Iran's considerations, saying that Iran is willing to continue seeking a rational and practical solution through peace talks.
Iran appreciates China's continued efforts to help ease tensions in the region, Araghchi said, adding that Iran expects China to play a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.
For his part, Wang said that China, as always, supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty security and national dignity. President Xi Jinping has put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, contributing a Chinese approach to resolving the crisis, he added.
The current situation has reached a critical stage between war and peace, with a window for peace opening, Wang said.
He called for respect for and safeguarding of Iran's sovereignty security and legitimate rights as a country along the Strait of Hormuz, as well as guaranteeing the freedom and safety of international navigation through the strait.
It is a shared call of the international community to strive to restore normal navigation through the strait, Wang added.
Following Xi's four-point proposal, China is ready to continue promoting de-escalation of the situation, facilitate improved relations among regional countries, and play a constructive role in ultimately achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Wang noted.
China supports maintaining momentum of ceasefire, peace talks: FM
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended the China-Spain Business Innovation Meeting along with Chinese Commerce Minster Wang Wentao in Beijing on Wednesday, the last day of his five-day visit to China.
The conference brought together over 100 representatives from Chinese and Spanish businesses. Participants shared cooperation experience and held discussions on technology research and development as well as investment cooperation.
"It's a very good opportunity for us to cooperate and to strengthen our cooperation with Chinese companies. I'm from Gestamp, an automotive supply company from Spain, based in China for the past 17 years. So, we have a long story doing business in China. We have a very good relationship with China," said Antonio Lopez Arce, CEO of the Asian division of Gestamp, a Spanish multinational specializing in the design, development and manufacturing of highly engineered metal components.
"I feel very well, very excited about the outcome of this meeting. This helps a lot, a lot to Spanish companies that we are doing business here in China," said Tomas Daga, a director at Grifols, a global healthcare company headquartered in Spain.
"I think this event can greatly promote the cooperation between Chinese and Spanish enterprises, and is also a very good experience. I hope that through this event, greater contribution can be made from the perspective of enterprises in China-Spain relations," said Simon Du, director of International Government Affairs at Xiaomi Corporation.
At the meeting, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said the cooperation between China and Spain has expanded to high value-added fields such as mechanical equipment and electric vehicles, adding that the two-way investment also remained at a stable level. Sanchez encouraged companies from both sides to enhance communication, while exploring potential for future development.
"Well, I think that it's a very good that the prime minister of our country is visiting China. I think Spain is taking the relationship with China very seriously, promoting the bi-directional business relationships," said Alexandre Catala Garcia, senior director of Global Affairs at China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC).
The Spanish prime minister's official visit came at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. This was Sanchez's fourth trip to China in four years, and also the latest in a series of visits to China by European leaders since the beginning of this year.
A day earlier, Sanchez spoke highly of the outcomes of his visit to China, adding that a broad set of cooperation agreements have been signed in Beijing across key areas, including the economy, education and culture.
Spanish PM attends China-Spain Business Innovation Meeting
