China's four-point proposal: A path to Middle East stability

Editor's note: Xia Lu, a special commentator for CGTN, is a research fellow at the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China and deputy dean of the School of Marxism Studies at Xinjiang University. Gao Lei, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Opening-up, Research Institute of Globalization and China's Modernization, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On April 14, 2026, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the two leaders exchanged a firm handshake, the world's gaze once again turned to the Middle East – a land that has endured centuries of turbulence.

Amid the region's persistent instability and mounting security dilemmas, China reaffirmed its principled stance of "promoting peace talks" and clearly articulated a four-point proposal to uphold and advance peace and stability in the Middle East.

This was far more than a routine diplomatic statement; rather, it represented a systematic and interlocking solution that strikes at the heart of the Middle East's challenges. It also demonstrated how China, as a responsible major country, has moved beyond the zero-sum game mindset and, with Eastern wisdom and pragmatic action, offered a viable pathway out of geopolitical deadlock.

Upholding the principle of peaceful coexistence to reinforce regional security

Although the countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region hold different beliefs and pursue diverse interests, they are geographically "neighbors that cannot be moved apart."

History has shown that bloc confrontation and proxy wars only perpetuate cycles of hatred. China supports regional countries to improve relations and advocates the building of a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable regional security architecture. This approach essentially reflects the geopolitical truth that "a close neighbor is better than a distant relative."

By refusing to take sides or to form exclusive blocs, China is offering a meaningful departure from traditional Western hegemonic diplomacy, aiming to awaken the agency of Middle Eastern nations themselves and let regional affairs be settled by the people of the region through dialogue and consultation.

Upholding the principle of national sovereignty to defend the bottom line of international relations

In the meeting, President Xi Jinping said sovereignty serves as a foundation for all countries, especially developing countries, to survive and thrive. This statement carries particular weight in today's Middle East.

For too long, certain external powers have arbitrarily interfered in the internal affairs of regional countries under various pretexts, imposing unilateral sanctions and even resorting to military strikes on sovereign states, with lasting damage to the regional ecosystem.

By unequivocally respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, China is not only defending the dignity of the Charter of the United Nations but also building a breakwater for developing nations against external bullying.

Upholding the principle of international rule of law to reject hypocritical double standards

In the meeting, President Xi Jinping also mentioned one cannot apply rules selectively – using them when convenient and discarding them when inconvenient – nor allow the world to regress to the law of the jungle.

This assertion cuts to the heart the notorious double standards of certain Western countries on Middle East issues. Peace cannot be built upon conventional power politics, still less on willful blindness.

China's emphasis on upholding an international order based on international law is, in essence, a call for a set of fair, transparent, and universally applicable global rules – rules that allow even the weakest nations to stand tall before the law.

Taking a holistic approach to development and security to find a recipe for lasting peace and stability

Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee for security. These two short sentences encapsulate a dialectical philosophy deeply rooted in China's experience.

Across the Middle East, challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and unequal distribution of resources are often the breeding grounds for extremism. China is willing to share with regional countries the opportunities of Chinese-style modernization, using tangible economic cooperation and connectivity to dilute the animosity of geopolitical confrontation.

From brokering the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to facilitating Palestinian internal reconciliation, and now to the systematic four-point proposal, China's diplomacy is proving through action that force is never the end of disputes, nor is prejudice a tool to protect interests.

China does not carve out spheres of influence, nor does it act as a condescending "lecturer." Instead, China serves as a builder of world peace and a contributor to global development. On this land that gave birth to ancient civilizations, China's call for "promoting peace talks" is coalescing into a warm and steadfast force – one that guides the Middle East toward a future no longer overshadowed by the flames of war and fragmentations of society.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)