Beijing, June 20, 2025 – The Europe Today: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday emphasized that an immediate ceasefire must be treated as an urgent priority in the Middle East, warning of grave regional and global consequences if the conflict continues to escalate. His remarks were made during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which both leaders exchanged views on the rapidly deteriorating situation in the region.
President Xi expressed deep concern over the perilous developments, stating that the ongoing crisis underscores that the world is entering a new era marked by turbulence and transformation. He warned that a prolonged conflict would not only inflict deeper suffering on directly involved parties but would also seriously destabilize the entire Middle East region.
“The use of force is not a viable path to resolving international disputes,” Xi said. “It only deepens hatred and confrontation.” He called on all parties to the conflict—particularly Israel—to halt military operations immediately, in order to prevent further escalation and the potential regional spillover of war.
President Xi stressed the paramount importance of protecting civilians, stating that the red line of safeguarding civilian lives in armed conflicts must never be crossed. He condemned the indiscriminate use of force and urged strict adherence to international law, including the protection of innocent civilians and the facilitation of safe evacuations for nationals of third countries.
Underscoring that dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable paths to lasting peace, Xi reiterated China’s consistent position on promoting political solutions. He urged the relevant stakeholders to support a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue and return the matter to the framework of dialogue and negotiation.
President Xi also called on the international community, especially major powers with influence over the conflicting parties, to take responsibility and work to de-escalate the situation rather than aggravate it. He urged the United Nations Security Council to play a more active role in restoring peace and stability.
“Without peace in the Middle East, global peace remains elusive,” Xi declared, reaffirming China’s commitment to strengthening communication and coordination with all parties, promoting justice, and playing a constructive role in peacebuilding.
In response, President Putin echoed Xi’s concerns, condemning Israel’s recent attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as extremely dangerous. He agreed that further escalation serves no one’s interest and reaffirmed Russia’s support for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue.
Putin also stressed the importance of protecting civilians, including citizens from third countries, and noted that Russia is prepared to maintain close coordination with China to help defuse tensions and promote regional stability.
Both leaders praised the high level of political trust and strategic cooperation between China and Russia. They agreed to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, and strengthen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.
