China and ASEAN Call for End to Middle East Conflict Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, China and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for an immediate end to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.

Foreign ministers from China and ASEAN nations convened in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to address the critical situation in the Middle East. They expressed significant concern regarding the current state of affairs and emphasized the importance of continued dialogue between Iran and the United States, coupled with an immediate halt to hostilities.

A joint statement released following the Manila meeting called for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the “full and effective” implementation of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Friday indicating that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, alongside his counterparts from ASEAN member countries, voiced concern over the intensifying Middle East crisis. He underscored that the continuation of this situation poses a threat to civilian lives, regional and global peace and stability, as well as energy and food security.