Iran Archives - Friends of Socialist China

China condemns acts that violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong addressed the UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question on successive days, October 28 and 29.

The first meeting was called at the request of Iran, Algeria, China and Russia following the brazen aerial attack on Iran by Israel. Ambassador Fu told the Security Council:

“China condemns acts that violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposes acts of destruction that threaten regional peace and security… We are gravely concerned about the escalation caused by Israel’s actions and urge Israel to effectively cease all provocative acts.”

He added: “It must be pointed out that the fundamental reason for the continued worsening of tensions in the Middle East is that the ceasefire in Gaza has remained elusive. The fact that a number of Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire have been shelved undermines the Council’s own authority and is not conducive to a fundamental solution to the conflict. China is of the view that under the current circumstances, the Council should utilise all the means available to it under the Charter to ensure the implementation of its relevant resolutions. We call on the country with significant influence on Israel [namely the United States] to put saving lives and preventing war in the first place, abandon any other political calculations, and support the Council in taking further actions on the current situation, so as to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and de-escalation of the situation in Lebanon and to effectively curb the expansion and spread of the conflict.”

Further derails of this Security Council Briefing were reported by the Palestine Chronicle.

The following day, Fu Cong made six points as follows:

An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the prerequisite for saving lives and preventing further deterioration of the situation. There is no justification for any delay. The United States has announced that it would reinvigorate ceasefire negotiations. We hope that the negotiations will not fall into the weird cycle of marking time as we saw in the past several months. Nor should they become a pretext for prolonging and expanding the fighting.

Gaza has been bombarded into a living hell, and Northern Gaza is turning into the hell of the hell. Humanitarian supplies have been cut off. Relief operations have been denied. Civilians in Jabalia camp are evacuated at gunpoint. And patients and doctors at the Kamal Adwan Hospital are subjected to inhumane treatment. The bottom line of international humanitarian law has been trampled upon time and again. This is a stain on the conscience of humanity and should not be tolerated at all. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. No double standards should be allowed in this regard.

UNRWA [The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] has been providing relief in accordance with its mandate from the General Assembly. It is the backbone of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The Israeli Knesset [parliament], in total disregard of the strong opposition of the international community, passed two bills in an attempt to restrict and close UNRWA. China expresses strong condemnation.

Certain countries [referring primarily to the United States but also including a handful of others, such as Britain and Germany] are continuing their massive supply of weapons to Israel. The GA [General Assembly] emergency special session has adopted a resolution urging all states to stop supplying weapons and equipment that might be used in the occupied Palestinian territory. China recently joined the joint letter initiated by Türkiye calling for the implementation of the demand from this GA resolution. We hope that the countries concerned will take seriously the grave consequence of their massive supply of weapons and stop fueling the flames of military adventurism.

While the flames of war have been raging on in Gaza over the past year, the situation in the West Bank has also been deteriorating. Illegal settlements have been expanding, with more than 1,700 Palestinian houses confiscated by force or demolished, and thousands of Palestinians displaced. The occupying power has also frequently conducted violence against the Palestinian people and used various means to suppress and restrict the governance of the Palestinian National Authority.

An all-out war in the region is looming. The recent Israeli invasion into Lebanon, its continuous indiscriminate bombardment, and multiple airstrikes against Iran and Syria have violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the relevant countries and further destabilised the region. We urge Israel to abandon its obsession with force, so as to prevent the region from being plunged into a larger disaster.

We reprint below the full texts of Fu Cong’s remarks. They were originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question

President,

I thank you for convening this meeting at the request of Iran, Algeria, China, and Russia. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his briefing.

On October 26, Israel launched rounds of air strikes against several sites in Iran, causing damage to facilities and casualties on the Iranian side. China condemns acts that violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposes acts of destruction that threaten regional peace and security. At present, the Iranian-Israeli relations and the situation of the region are on the edge. We are gravely concerned about the escalation caused by Israel’s actions, and urge Israel to effectively cease all provocative acts. At the same time, we call on all parties to exercise calm and restraint, jointly abide by the UN Charter and the principles of international law, and return to the right track of resolving disputes by political and diplomatic means.

At present, with the Gaza conflict still dragging on, a new conflict in Lebanon breaking out, and continued tensions between Syria and Israel and in the Red Sea, the situation in the Middle East has long been precarious. At this critical moment, all parties should heed the overwhelming call of the international community for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, fully implement Council resolutions, and make unremitting efforts to deescalate the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the region. Any reckless provocation or military adventurism to expand the fighting is irresponsible and is highly likely to lead to miscalculation and disastrous consequences.

It must be pointed out that the fundamental reason for the continued worsening of tensions in the Middle East is that the ceasefire in Gaza has remained elusive. The fact that a number of Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire have been shelved undermines the Council’s own authority and is not conducive to a fundamental solution to the conflict. China is of the view that under the current circumstances, the Council should utilize all the means available to it under the Charter to ensure the implementation of its relevant resolutions. We call on the country with significant influence on Israel to put saving lives and preventing war in the first place, abandon any other political calculations, and support the Council in taking further actions on the current situation, so as to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and deescalation of the situation in Lebanon and to effectively curb the expansion and spread of the conflict.

I thank you, President.

Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question

President,

I thank you for presiding over this meeting. I would also like to thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for the briefing today.

As the Council is again considering the situation in the Middle East, what is unfolding before our eyes is that Gaza and the Middle East as a whole are experiencing worsening situation, elusive peace prospects, and a looming all-out war. The Council should act immediately on the pressing issues, with a view to promoting a ceasefire, saving lives, and restoring peace, I wish to stress the following points.

First, an immediate and permanent ceasefire is the prerequisite for saving lives and preventing further deterioration of the situation. There is no justification for any delay. The United States has announced that it would reinvigorate ceasefire negotiations. We hope that the negotiations will not fall into the weird cycle of marking time as we saw in the past several months. Nor should they become a pretext for prolonging and expanding the fighting. The relevant diplomatic efforts should not be used as an excuse to obstruct Council actions. We support the Council in using all the options in its toolbox and take further actions towards a ceasefire.

Second, Gaza has been bombarded into a living hell, and Northern Gaza is turning into the hell of the hell. Humanitarian supplies have been cut off. Relief operations have been denied. Civilians in Jabalia camp are evacuated at gunpoint. And patients and doctors at the Kamal Adwan Hospital are subjected to inhumane treatment. The bottom line of international humanitarian law has been trampled upon time and again. This is a stain on the conscience of humanity and should not be tolerated at all. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. No double standards should be allowed in this regard.

Third, UNRWA has been providing relief in accordance with its mandate from the General Assembly. It is the backbone of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The Israeli Knesset, in total disregard of the strong opposition of the international community, passed two bills in an attempt to restrict and close UNRWA. China expresses strong condemnation. Closing the Agency would be a new round of collective punishment of millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, and would severely affect the humanitarian situation, security, and stability in the region. We call on Israel to hold and revoke the relevant bills to ensure the dignity, safety, and facilitation for the work of UN humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA.

Fourth, in the current context, certain countries are continuing their massive supply of weapons to Israel. Whether such acts would contribute to achieving the objectives contained in the Council resolutions is a matter that must be taken seriously. The GA emergency special session has adopted a resolution urging all states to stop supplying weapons and equipment that might be used in the occupied Palestinian territory. China recently joined the joint letter initiated by Türkiye calling for the implementation of the demand from this GA resolution. We hope that the countries concerned will take seriously the grave consequence of their massive supply of weapons and stop fueling the flames of military adventurism.

Fifth, while the flames of war have been raging on in Gaza over the past year, the situation in the West Bank has also been deteriorating. Illegal settlements have been expanding, with more than 1,700 Palestinian houses confiscated by force or demolished, and thousands of Palestinians displaced. The occupying power has also frequently conducted violence against the Palestinian people and used various means to suppress and restrict the governance of the Palestinian National Authority. Such practices are creating a new reality and undermining the conditions on which the realization of the two-State solution is based. Preventing the further erosion of the basis of the two-State solution by unilateral actions should be a priority for the international community in advancing Palestinian-Israeli peace in the next phase.

Sixth, an all-out war in the region is looming. The recent Israeli invasion into Lebanon, its continuous indiscriminate bombardment, and multiple airstrikes against Iran and Syria have violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the relevant countries and further destabilized the region. The situation is hanging by a thread. Any irresponsible adventurism would be extremely dangerous and might lead to catastrophic consequences. We urge Israel to abandon its obsession with force, so as to prevent the region from being plunged into a larger disaster. We also call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, jointly abide by the UN Charter and the principles of international law, and return to the right track of seeking political and diplomatic solutions to disputes.

Thank you, President.

Fu Cong: The tragedy in Gaza is unimaginable and unbelievable in the 21st century

Within the first ten days of October, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong has spoken out strongly in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against the criminal behaviour, war crimes and atrocities of the Israeli regime as well as against the support, connivance and protection afforded to it by the United States.

On October 10, speaking at the UNSC Briefing on the Lebanese-Israeli Situation, Ambassador Fu stated:

“A few hours ago, the IDF [“Israeli ‘Defence’ Force”] attacked UNIFIL [UN peace keepers] positions and an observation tower, causing injuries to UNIFIL personnel. China expresses grave concerns and strong condemnation. UNIFIL carries out its peacekeeping tasks under the mandate from the Security Council resolution. Any deliberate attacks on peacekeepers constitute a severe violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701.”

He went on to make three points:

First, since October last year, the series of destabilising events that have taken place in the Middle East have resulted in more than 100,000 civilian casualties and left millions of people displaced. The cleanup work will take a decade or so. What’s more, the trauma brought by conflicts will be a lingering nightmare for generations to come. The Middle East cannot afford a full-scale war.

Second, achieving a ceasefire must be an overarching priority. We note that all parties in Lebanon have already made a unanimous call for an immediate ceasefire. The Arab League has also issued an explicit appeal. It is clear who holds the key to ending this crisis.

Third, there is no time to lose for the Council to act. Clearly referring to the United States. he said: “We urge a certain country to stop its passive procrastination, cover-up, and connivance. Instead, it should act responsibly and play a constructive role in order to prevent further destabilisation of the situation.”

The previous day, during the UNSC Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza, he noted:

Two million people in Gaza are struggling under the blockade and fire, and one out of every fifty people has suffered violent death. The authority of international law seems to exist in name only for certain states, and the bottom line of international humanitarian law has been repeatedly shattered. The tragedy in Gaza is unimaginable and unbelievable in the 21st century. Like many Council members, China is shocked, disappointed, and outraged. However, we do not believe that the Palestinian people are destined to suffer. Nor do we believe that the Council as a collective body has exhausted all efforts to maintain peace.

We cannot accept that death and hunger have become the new normal in Gaza. Gaza is already an inferno on Earth. For the people there, humanitarian aid is the hope for survival. The role of UNRWA [the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] is indispensable and irreplaceable. China firmly opposes Israel’s smearing and suppression of UNRWA and is gravely concerned about the relevant Knesset [Israeli parliament] bills targeting the Agency.

We cannot allow the conflict to drag on and expand. We cannot just sit back and watch the entire Middle East plunging into an all-out war. The harsh reality has proved that winning a war does not necessarily mean having peace, military might alone cannot guarantee lasting security, and the obsession with force only creates more killings and hatred. Israel must cease all military operations in Gaza and put an end to the collective punishment of the people in Gaza. The intensified settlement activities and violence in the West Bank were a de-facto obliteration of the foundation of the two-State solution, and must stop immediately. Lebanon must not become the next Gaza.

We cannot ignore the marginalisation of the Council. There is broad consensus among the vast majority of Council members on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. After repeated vetoes of the Council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the US put forward a ceasefire initiative last May, claiming that Israel had accepted it and requesting the Council’s support for an agreement through diplomatic talks. However, over the past five months, the so-called diplomatic efforts seemed to be going in circles, and more time and patience have led to greater civilian casualties and more reckless military adventurism.

Days earlier, on October 2, Ambassador Fu addressed a previous UNSC Briefing on the Lebanese-Israeli Situation. He said: “I would like to reiterate China’s resolute support for the Secretary-General’s work, and we oppose Israel’s groundless accusations against him,” and continued:

“Following the remotely operated and simultaneous detonation of thousands of communications devices in Lebanon, Israel carried out several rounds of large-scale airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, and launched ground offensive and military incursion into Lebanon yesterday. Israel also intensified airstrikes against Syria.”

He then carefully and precisely added: “Iran has concluded a series of military attacks on the military and security targets of Israel, and sent correspondence to the Security Council explaining its position”, and noted that China condemns “all violence and attacks against civilians.” [Emphasis added by us.]

“Gaza has become a hell on Earth. In the meantime, in Lebanon, there has been massive destruction of civilian facilities, thousands of casualties, and more than one million people displaced from their homes, including a large number of Palestinian refugees.”

Finally, he addressed himself to the United States, as well as a tiny number of other countries, including Britain: “With the current situation hanging by a thread, any passive procrastination would be irresponsible, and any rhetoric of condoning further military adventurism would send a wrong message and could cause serious consequences. We hope major countries with influence will adopt a sincere and responsible attitude and earnestly play a constructive role to avoid further escalation of the situation.”

China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity

China has declared that it supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity in accordance with the law, supports its efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability, and is willing to maintain close communication with the country.

This important statement came in an August 11 telephone conversation between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani. It followed the assassination by Israel on July 31 in Tehran of Ismail Haniyeh, who chaired the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas. Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Wang Yi reiterated that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination, believing that it gravely violates the basic norms governing international relations, seriously infringes on Iran’s sovereignty, security and dignity, directly undermines the Gaza ceasefire negotiation process, and shocks regional peace and stability.

China stands ready to work with the new Iranian government to continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, steadily advance practical cooperation in various fields, unswervingly promote the sound development of bilateral relations, and constantly add new content to the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

Iran is welcome to actively participate in the events hosted by China as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with Iran within the framework of the BRICS mechanism, further increase the voice and influence of the Global South, and promote more just and reasonable development of international governance, Wang said.

Analysing the significance of the Chinese stance, the online publication, The Palestine Chronicle quoted its Chief Editor, Dr. Ramzy Baroud, as saying:

“The official Chinese position did not include such phrases as ‘using restraint’, or ‘avoiding further escalation’. In itself, this is very important.”

Baroud added, “also considering the guarded nature of Chinese foreign policy, it would not be expected that the Chinese openly declare that Iran has the right to attack Israel or Israeli interests as a form of retaliation for Israel’s infringement on its sovereignty through the assassination of the Palestinian leader.

“A careful reading of the statement of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, however, suggests that China is willing to accommodate, in fact, support an Iranian retaliation against Israel since such retaliation can be considered part of Iran’s ‘safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity.’”

“This development”, Baroud continued, “indicates two things: One, that Iran is succeeding in garnering enough international support for its forthcoming response to the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh; two, that China is inching closer to the pro-resistance camp in the Middle East, a position that would surely frustrate Washington’s designs in the region.”

Earlier, on August 11, Wang Yi also held separate telephone talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

In his talk with his Egyptian counterpart, Wang said the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has pushed the regional situation into a more dangerous height, adding that China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns such assassination acts that violate the basic principles of the UN Charter, infringe on Iran’s sovereignty and dignity, severely undermine efforts to promote peace, and make a ceasefire in Gaza increasingly unattainable, adding that that double standards should not be applied to the crisis in Gaza.

He also pointed out that China will continue to stand on the side of international justice, strengthen solidarity with Arab countries, and work with all parties to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

Speaking with Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi, Wang pointed that the key to avoiding the deterioration and escalation of the situation is to achieve a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible and the international community should raise a more consistent voice on this issue and form a joint force.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese FM holds phone talks with Iranian counterpart on bilateral ties, Mideast situation

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held phone talks with Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani at request, focusing on bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East.

Noting that Iran is a country with important influence in the region and a comprehensive strategic partner of China, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China has always promoted its relations with Iran from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ meeting promotes regional cooperation

A meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, on May 20-21.

The meeting was preparatory to the Astana SCO Summit, which is scheduled to be held on July 3-4.

Presiding over the meeting, Murat Nurtleu, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, welcomed participants and called for a moment of silence to honour Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others who died in the helicopter crash on May 19.

The meeting agreed to enhance cooperation in ensuring regional security and combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, among other areas. A special focus was placed on the organisation’s growth, with Belarus expected to complete all necessary procedures for admission to full membership at the July summit.

Addressing the ministers, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his deep condolences to the people and leadership of Iran following the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian. He also acknowledged the participation of Iranian representatives despite their nation’s difficult time and welcomed Belarus to its first Foreign Ministers’ Council in Astana.

Amid global strategic uncertainty, Tokayev stressed the importance of an integrated approach that considers all parties’ interests and the constant search for compromises. He voiced his belief that the time has come to collectively promote the ideals and values of peaceful and harmonious development for the sake of all humanity.

Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, he stressed the need to prevent a humanitarian crisis and create conditions for long-term stabilisation. He reiterated the importance of Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish the United Nations’ Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.

In his speech to the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that SCO member countries have been important partners for China in high-level opening-up and high-quality development.

Valuing the SCO’s role, Wang said the Shanghai Spirit, which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations and pursuit of common development, has become the fundamental principle of the SCO’s continuous growth and a banner for promoting new types of international relations.

He put forward four suggestions during the meeting: to maintain strategic autonomy and strengthen unity and cooperation; to share security responsibilities and lift cooperation to higher levels; to pursue inclusive and win-win cooperation and empower joint development; and to embrace openness and inclusiveness and deepen exchanges and mutual learning.

China is willing to work with SCO partners to actively advocate for a multipolar world with equality and order and inclusive economic globalisation, and to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he added.

In a meeting with the Kazakh President on May 20, Tokayev asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, noting that China’s international status continues to rise and its role in the world is increasingly significant. The country is making greater contributions to global peace and stability, and the international community is paying more attention to China’s voice. He looked forward to the Chinese President’s state visit in July.

He also highly evaluated Kazakh-Chinese relations within the framework of international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

“Kazakhstan has been and remains a reliable partner of China. We are doing everything possible to implement the agreements that were reached earlier. We are working together and advancing our relationship into the future,” he added.

Wang responded that China would continue to firmly support Kazakhstan in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, support President Tokayev’s series of development strategies and important measures, and resolutely oppose any external forces interfering in Kazakhstan’s internal affairs.

During the country’s historical process of building a New Kazakhstan, China is willing to be a reliable and long-term partner, supporting the diversification of Kazakhstan’s economic development and promoting cooperation in emerging industries such as e-commerce, new energy and artificial intelligence.

The same day, Wang Yi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, with the two men jointly meeting the press following their talks.

Wang said that, as Kazakhstan recently suffered from severe floods, China is willing to continue providing as much help as possible to assist in the reconstruction work.

He further noted that both sides spoke highly of the fruitful outcomes of their cooperation. According to Chinese statistics, bilateral trade reached 41 billion US dollars last year, achieving the target set by the two heads of state seven years ahead of schedule. To date, 26 out of the 45 capacity cooperation projects have been completed, in such sectors as mining and metals, energy resources, machinery manufacturing, building materials, chemicals and infrastructure construction. Cooperation in oil and gas and in nuclear energy is also accelerating.

Both sides praised the success of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an, held in May 2023, which has ushered in a new phase of enhanced cooperation between China and Central Asia.

The Chinese side is eager to work alongside the Central Asian nations to strengthen and optimise the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, aiming to build a stable, prosperous, harmonious, and interconnected Central Asia, thereby injecting strong vitality into the building of a China-Central Asia community of shared future, Wang said.

Both sides will work to advance the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilisation Initiative, unequivocally oppose unilateralism and hegemonic behaviours, and promote the development of global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction.

Xi expresses condolences over Iranian President Raisi’s death

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber following the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

On behalf of the Chinese government and the people of China, Xi expressed deep condolences and extended sincere sympathies to Mokhber, the family of President Raisi, and the Iranian government and people.

Xi said that since President Raisi took office, he made important contributions to maintaining Iran’s security and stability and promoting national development and prosperity. He added that Raisi also made positive efforts to consolidate and deepen the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

Raisi’s tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend, Xi said.

Meanwhile, speaking in the capital Astana, whilst on a visit to Kazakhstan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also expressed deep condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a joint press briefing with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu.

Wang noted that Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian have made significant contributions to developing China-Iran relations and to promoting regional friendly cooperation.

China, he said, has actively assisted in the search and rescue efforts following the disaster and is ready to continue providing any necessary support to Iran.

Earlier, before the crashed helicopter was discovered, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry also said that China would provide all necessary support and assistance for Iran’s rescue efforts.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi expresses condolences over Iranian President Raisi’s death

BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolence to Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber following the unfortunate death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident.

Raisi’s tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend, Xi said.

The Chinese government and Chinese people cherish the traditional friendship between China and Iran, Xi said, noting that with the joint efforts of both sides, the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to consolidate and develop.

Chinese FM expresses deep condolences over deaths of Iranian president, FM

ASTANA, May 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed deep condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a joint press briefing with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Astana.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is deeply saddened by Iran’s official confirmation that Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian lost their lives in a recent helicopter accident.

Wang expressed deep condolences and extended sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased, the Iranian government and the people of Iran.

He noted that Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian have made significant contributions to developing China-Iran relations and promoting regional friendly cooperation.

China has actively assisted in the search and rescue efforts following the accident and is ready to continue providing any necessary support to Iran, Wang said, adding that he believes that the Iranian government and people will get through this difficult time.

Chinese and Iranian defence ministers discuss cooperation

Following an April 26 meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in the Kazakh capital Astana, Iran has expressed appreciation for China’s position and understanding regarding its April 13 missile and drone attack on Israeli military targets, in response to Israel’s April 1 attack on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the conference, Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani hailed China’s stance on the ongoing developments in the region and its condemnation of Israel’s terrorist airstrike against Iran’s diplomatic premises. It is necessary, he said, for Iran and China to boost cooperation and convergence to solve security issues in the region and across the world.

Dong Jun, for his part, slammed Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria, which he said violated international law. China supports Iran’s legitimate right to respond to Israel, he added. He invited his Iranian counterpart to take part in a security conference in Beijing and called for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the defence and military arenas.

Besides his meeting with Ashtiani, the Xinhua News Agency reported that Dong also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, during his stay in Kazakhstan.

Earlier, on April 15, following the Iranian action, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone talks with his Iranian and Saudi counterparts. Preserving the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, which was brokered in Beijing last year, is a clear priority for China’s diplomacy and also serves to safeguard the peace process in Yemen, assists in ending conflict in Syria and impedes any American scheme to impose a one-sided deal with Israel that would negatively impact the struggle of the Palestinian people and that of the countries and peoples in the region against imperialism and Zionism.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian briefed Wang on Iran’s position on the attack on its consulate, saying that the UN Security Council did not make a necessary response and that Iran has the right to self-defence in response to the violation of its sovereignty. The Iranian side calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supports China’s active efforts to push for this as well as to restore regional peace and strengthen cooperation among regional countries.

Wang Yi said China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, regarding it as a serious violation of international law and unacceptable.

China has noted Iran’s statement that its action taken was limited and was an act of self-defence in response to the attack. China appreciates Iran’s stress on not targeting regional and neighbouring countries as well as its reiteration on continuously pursuing a good-neighbourly and friendly policy. It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its own sovereignty and dignity.

China is willing to maintain communication with the Iranian side and jointly push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Wang added. China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, and China is willing to steadily advance practical cooperation with Iran in various fields for a greater development of bilateral relations.

Wang Yi told his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud that China has noticed Iran’s emphasis that its counterattack does not target any neighbouring country and that it is willing to continuously pursue a good-neighbourly policy.

This round of escalation is the latest manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict, the Chinese Foreign Minister noted, adding that the top priority now is to strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728, immediately realise an unconditional and lasting ceasefire, effectively protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian assistance.

The Palestinian people have long been unable to realise their legitimate national rights, which constitutes the most enduring injustice in modern times, and is the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli issue, as well as the core of the Middle East issue.

For his part, Faisal said Saudi Arabia and China hold highly consistent positions on the current situation in the Middle East, noting that both countries stand for resolving differences through dialogue and are committed to maintaining peace and stability.

Saudi Arabia fully trusts China and is willing to push for the sustainable development of bilateral cooperation, he added.

The following articles were originally published by Press TV and the Xinhua News Agency.

Iran, China discuss military cooperation; Beijing backs Tehran’s ‘legitimate’ strikes against Israel

26 April (Press TV) — Iran and China’s defense chiefs discussed ways to enhance military cooperation, also conferring on regional issues.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday.

Ashtiani hailed China’s stance on the ongoing developments in the region and its condemnation of Israel’s terrorist airstrike against Iran’s diplomatic premise in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month.

It is necessary for Iran and China to boost cooperation and convergence to solve security issues in the region and across the world, the Iranian defense chief said.

On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital, which killed two generals of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.

In retaliation, the IRGC targeted the occupied territories on April 13 with a barrage of drones and missiles. The retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Following the reprisal, Iran warned Israel against taking any retaliatory actions and also urged the US to try not to involve itself in the conflict and signaled that it viewed the matter as “concluded.”

China supports Iran’s retaliatory airstrikes against Israel: Dong

The Chinese defense minister, for his part, slammed Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria, which he said violated international law.

China supports Iran’s legitimate right to respond to Israel, Dong added.

He invited his Iranian counterpart to take part in a security conference in Beijing and urged for enhanced bilateral cooperation in defense and military arenas.

The Chinese defense chief called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-stricken Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid there.

At least 34,356 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed and 77,368 people wounded in the war that Israel began on October 7 following a retaliatory operation by the Palestinian territory’s resistance movements.

The brutal military onslaught enjoys unreserved military and political support on the part of the Israeli regime’s Western allies, including the United States and France.

Chinese, Iranian FMs hold phone talks on Israel-Iran tensions

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held phone talks on Monday regarding the tensions between Israel and Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian briefed Wang on Iran’s position on the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, saying that the UN Security Council did not make a necessary response to this attack, and that Iran has the right to self-defense in response to the violation of its sovereignty.

Noting that the current regional situation is very sensitive, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of further escalating the situation.

The Iranian side calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supports China’s active efforts to push for a ceasefire, restore regional peace and strengthen cooperation among regional countries, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that Iran is willing to work with China for further development of Iran-China cooperation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, regarding it as a serious violation of international law and unacceptable.

China has noted Iran’s statement that its action taken was limited and was an act of self-defense in response to the attack against the Iranian consulate in Syria, Wang said.

China appreciates Iran’s stress on not targeting regional and neighboring countries as well as its reiteration on continuously pursuing a good-neighborly and friendly policy, he said.

It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its own sovereignty and dignity, he added.

Wang said that the current situation is a spillover effect of the escalating conflict in Gaza. The pressing task now is to implement Security Council Resolution 2728 as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire and end the fighting in Gaza, effectively protect civilians and prevent further aggravation of the humanitarian disaster, he said.

China is willing to maintain communication with the Iranian side and jointly push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Wang said.

China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, and China is willing to steadily advance practical cooperation with Iran in various fields for a greater development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

Chinese, Saudi FMs hold phone talks on Middle East’s regional situation, bilateral ties

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, held phone talks on Monday regarding the regional situation in the Middle East as well as China-Saudi Arabia ties.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China firmly opposes the attack on the Iranian consulate building in Syria’s capital, Damascus, which is a serious violation of international law.

China has noticed Iran’s emphasis that its counterattack does not target any neighboring country and that it is willing to continuously pursue a good-neighborly policy, Wang added.

The current situation entails a choice between deterioration and a return to normalcy, Wang noted.

Wang said China appreciates Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on resolving issues through diplomatic means, adding that China is willing to work together with Saudi Arabia to avoid further escalation of confrontation.

This round of escalation is the latest manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict, Wang noted, adding that the top priority now is to strictly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728, immediately realize an unconditional and lasting ceasefire, effectively protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian assistance.

The Palestinian people have long been unable to realize their legitimate national rights, which constitutes the most enduring injustice in modern times, and is the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli issue, as well as the core of the Middle East issue, Wang said.

The issue should be solved by implementing the two-state solution as soon as possible, establishing an independent Palestinian state, restoring the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, and realizing the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, Wang said.

The international community should take more active actions to support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations, promote the convening of a larger-scale, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference, and develop a timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution, Wang said, noting that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia and make joint efforts to this end.

Saudi Arabia is an important partner of China in the Middle East, said Wang, adding that China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia, follow through on the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, continuously deepen political mutual trust, and promote bilateral relations to higher levels.

Faisal said that Saudi Arabia, deeply concerned about the current escalating situation in the Middle East, hopes that the situation will return to the normal track as soon as possible.

Noting that Saudi Arabia highly expects China to play an active and important role in this regard, Faisal said the Saudi side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to promote an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, start the implementation of the two-state solution, and help achieve stability in the Middle East at an early date.

Saudi Arabia fully trusts China, and is willing to push for the sustainable development of bilateral cooperation, he added.