When foreign ministers Wang Yi and Seyed Abbas Araghchi met in Beijing on September 17, both agreed that safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz required a reinforced, multilateral security architecture in West Asia.

Yi offered China's support for de-escalating tensions in the region, while Araghchi consented that the transformation in the security landscape required security cooperation among regional countries to preclude interference by foreign forces. Both countries agreed that the present tensions are rooted in the US and Israeli military attacks against Iran early this year.

During the meeting, Yi also said that relations between Tehran and Beijing are significant due to their strategic partnership, and that Beijing is keen on strengthening and developing these ties.

Yi's messaging was consistent as ever; peace and tranquility in the Middle East and West Asia, as well as peaceful conflict resolution based on respect for sovereignty of individual nations.

Only a few days earlier, during the recent 18th BRICS summit in India, similar messages resonated across the conference hall. President Xi Jinping anchored his speech in multilateral cooperation, the urgency for upholding the international rule of law, respect for sovereign equality, and perusal of the peaceful settlement of disputes. And China, Xi declared, is ready to act as an anchor, a stabilising force for achieving these ideals. He reiterated the need for expanding the........

© The Express Tribune