Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, has portrayed Beijing as a global defender of peace and stability while urging an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing war involving Iran.
Speaking Sunday on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Wang said the conflict should never have happened and warned that it benefits no one.
“This was a war that should never have happened, and a war that benefited no one,” he said during a press briefing, calling on all sides to stop fighting and return to negotiations.
Wang reiterated China’s position that diplomacy remains the only viable solution to the crisis. He urged all parties involved to resume dialogue immediately to prevent further escalation and stop the conflict from spreading across the region.
“All parties should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and resolve their differences through equal dialogue,” he said.
The remarks come as Xi Jinping prepares to host Donald Trump in Beijing later this month for a highly anticipated summit between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies. The meeting is expected to cover major issues including trade tensions, geopolitical disputes and the situation surrounding Taiwan.
However, the rapidly escalating Middle East conflict has added a new layer of complexity to the upcoming talks.
China has long maintained close ties with Iran, and Beijing has expressed concern over recent developments in the conflict, including the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the global economic disruption triggered by rising oil prices.
More than a week after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iranian targets, fighting continues with no clear path toward a ceasefire.
Trump recently said the United States would accept no settlement with Iran other than “unconditional surrender,” though he did not outline specific conditions.
Amid the turmoil, Beijing has sought to present itself as a stabilizing global power. Wang described China as “the world’s most important force of peace, stability and justice,” arguing that the country provides a critical anchor of certainty in an increasingly unstable world.
At the same time, he signaled openness to improved cooperation with Washington, emphasizing the importance of managing differences between the two superpowers.
“China and the United States are both major powers, and neither can change the other — but we can change the way we interact,” Wang said, urging both sides to prepare carefully for the upcoming summit.
Compared with last year’s sharply critical tone toward Washington, Wang’s comments reflected growing confidence in Beijing’s global position. Despite tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China has largely weathered the economic pressure while strengthening ties with several traditional U.S. allies.
In recent months, leaders including Emmanuel Macron of France, Keir Starmer of United Kingdom and Friedrich Merz of Germany have visited China, signaling Beijing’s efforts to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with Europe.
Wang also defended the role of the United Nations in global governance, appearing to push back against proposals to create alternative international frameworks.
“Attempts to bypass the UN and start anew or create exclusive blocs will gain no support and are unsustainable,” he said.
Despite the conciliatory tone toward the United States, Wang reaffirmed China’s strong partnership with Russia. He described relations between the two countries as stable and resilient despite international pressure.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China has avoided direct criticism of Moscow and has remained a key economic and diplomatic partner for the Russian government.
