Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the current situation in the Middle East.

Lavrov said Russia is highly concerned about the escalating situation in the Middle East, stressing that regarding the current conflict and the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, Russia maintains that military operations must cease immediately.

He urged efforts to return to political and diplomatic tracks to address the root causes of the conflict.

The UN Security Council should play a constructive role to this end, Lavrov said, adding that Russia stands ready to maintain close communication and coordination with China and continue to work for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia should uphold justice on major issues of principle, adopt an objective and balanced approach, and strive for greater understanding and support from the international community, noted Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

China has always advocated for political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues through dialogue and negotiation, he said.

Noting that the current tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Wang said the fundamental way to resolve navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.

China is willing to continue working with Russia within the framework of the UN Security Council, maintain communication on major issues, and make joint efforts to help de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, safeguard regional peace and stability, and uphold common security for the world, he added.