President Xi Jinping urges all parties to de-escalate Middle East tensions immediately

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East and called on all parties involved to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and prevent further deterioration.

Meeting in Astana on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit, President Xi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East. Xi expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions sparked by Israel's military operation against Iran. 

He stressed that China opposes any actions that infringe upon the sovereignty, security, territorial integrity of other countries, and deems military conflict no solution.

Military confrontation is not the way to resolve disputes, and a continued escalation serves no one's interests, the Chinese president pointed out.

Xi emphasized that the international community should work together to cool tensions in the region. "All parties should act with restraint, avoid further escalation, and help return the region to peace and stability as soon as possible," he said.

Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to working with all parties to play constructive role in restoring peace, stability in the Middle East.

(Cover: Smoke billows from a site near the Azadi Tower in central Tehran, as fighting between Israel and Iran continues, June 16, 2025. /VCG)