China ready to step up dialogue with Saudi, Iran to secure lasting regional stability: spokeswoman

China is willing to strengthen communication and dialogue with Saudi Arabia, Iran and other regional countries to realize sustained security and stability in the Middle East, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Mao Ning, the spokeswoman, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to a question about recent visits to China by Saudi National Security Advisor Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban and Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and about China's views on Saudi-Iran relations and the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, China is ready to step up communication and dialogue with Saudi Arabia, Iran and other regional countries. The pressing priority is to avoid resumption of conflicts in the Middle East, which will inflict great suffering on the people in the region. China will continue to follow the guidance of the initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping on promoting peace and security in the Middle East, uphold an objective and fair position, support Iran and the U.S. in resolving disputes through negotiations, promote the political settlement of the Yemen issue, and facilitate efforts to seek a proper and comprehensive settlement on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz," Mao said.

"It is our hope that regional countries will uphold the principles of mutual respect and good-neighborliness, jointly create a new regional architecture for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and realize lasting peace in the region," she said.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, separately met with Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban and Ali Bagheri Kani in Beijing, exchanging in-depth views with them on the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

China ready to step up dialogue with Saudi, Iran to secure lasting regional stability: spokeswoman

China ready to step up dialogue with Saudi, Iran to secure lasting regional stability: spokeswoman

China ready to step up dialogue with Saudi, Iran to secure lasting regional stability: spokeswoman

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker visited Tongji University in Shanghai on Wednesday, before attending the opening ceremony of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in the city on Thursday.

Stocker is paying an official visit to China until Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

While delivering a speech at the Tongji University, he put scientific research and higher education cooperation in the spotlight.

"Austria and China will build the future together, bringing mutual benefits to both countries. This requires courage, confidence and long-term commitment," said the Austrian chancellor, noting that Austria will be a trustworthy partner to China in opening a new chapter for cooperation.

At a panel discussion, participants from both countries discussed the future of science and engineering.

Recent exchanges between the Tongji University and Austrian universities focused on joint research, student mobility and the growing role of artificial intelligence in engineering education.

"This year marks the 55th anniversary of [the establishment of] diplomatic ties between China and Austria, and 100 years [the 100th year] since Professor Hans List began teaching at the Tongji University. These two milestones invite us to look back at history. The longstanding friendship between Chinese and Austrian engineers is a vivid example of China's openness to the world," said Wan Gang, honorary president of the China Association for Science and Technology.

In 1926, Hans List began teaching at the Tongji University, helping train China's first generation of internal combustion engine specialists. A century later, his family donated historical archives and a statue of him to the university.

There has been close cooperation between the Tongji University and AVL List GmbH, which was founded by Hans List and is one of the world's leading mobility technology companies for engineering, simulation, and testing in the automotive industry.

A century ago, Austria brought some of its most advanced engineering technologies to China. Today, the two countries are building on that legacy, strengthening their friendship and partnership, and driving a new wave of innovation together.

Austrian chancellor visits Tongji University in Shanghai