Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that his country is “deeply concerned” about the “sudden escalation” of Middle East tensions caused by Israel’s military action against Iran, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
In his first public comments on the Iran-Israel conflict since its outbreak on Friday, as reported by CNN, Xi said that China — a key diplomatic and economic supporter of Iran — opposes “all acts that violate the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity” of other countries.
“Military conflict is not the way to resolve problems, and the escalation of regional tensions is not in the common interest of the international community,” Xi said while speaking alongside Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Xi is in Astana for the second China-Central Asia summit.
Xi stated that all parties should work to de-escalate the conflict as quickly as possible and that China is ready to cooperate with all sides “to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability” in the region.
