Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China is prepared to work with Bahrain to promote a ceasefire, restore peace, and achieve long-term stability in the Middle East, according to remarks made during a phone conversation with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The discussion took place at the request of the Bahraini foreign minister, who also serves as the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council. He briefed Wang on recent developments in the Middle East, noting that regional countries are facing serious security challenges, including disruptions to shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Al Zayani expressed Bahrain’s willingness to utilize the United Nations Security Council to help address shipping passage issues in the Strait and emphasized the need to strengthen coordination and communication with China.
Wang reiterated China’s principled stance of opposing aggression and advocating peaceful resolution of conflicts. He referenced a recent five-point initiative jointly issued by China and Pakistan aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and broader Middle East region, which calls for an end to attacks on civilians, protection of non-military targets, ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resumption of normal maritime traffic.
He noted that a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities remain a shared aspiration of the international community, stressing that actions by the UN Security Council should contribute to de-escalation and support the resumption of dialogue rather than intensifying conflict.
Wang added that as a permanent member of the Security Council and a major global power, China stands ready to cooperate with Bahrain to help end hostilities, promote regional peace, and safeguard the interests of smaller and developing nations.