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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for an "immediate ceasefire" of hostilities in West Asia during a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, amid rising regional tensions, Xinhua reported.
According to Xinhua, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is ready to continue working with Russia within the framework of the United Nations Security Council, maintain timely communication on major issues, and jointly contribute to de-escalation efforts to safeguard regional peace and global security. Highlighting the worsening situation in the Middle East, Wang stressed that hostilities are escalating and called for an early ceasefire as the fundamental step to end the conflict and ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy trade. He urged both countries, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, to adopt an objective and balanced approach while seeking broader international support, Xinhua reported. According to Xinhua, Lavrov expressed Russia's deep concern over the continued escalation in West Asia and underscored the need to halt military operations immediately. He said that efforts should return to political and diplomatic channels to address the root causes of the conflict and emphasised the constructive role of the UN Security Council. Russia also expressed readiness to coordinate closely with China in advocating for a ceasefire and ending the war. The conflict in West Asia began following US-Israeli joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran, in retaliation, targeted Israel and US assets in several Gulf countries, causing disruption in the waterways and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. (ANI)
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