Khaberni - China and Pakistan called on Tuesday for an immediate cessation of war in the region and to hold peace talks as soon as possible, during a meeting where they agreed to enhance their cooperation on Iran.
The two countries established a framework for a joint initiative "to establish peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East", following a visit by senior Pakistani officials to Beijing.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that both sides agreed on a five-point plan, starting with an "immediate cessation of hostilities" and "beginning peace talks as soon as possible".
The proposal also calls for a halt to attacks on civilians and non-military targets, such as energy infrastructure and desalination plants.
It demands securing the sea lanes, allowing "safe and timely passage for civilian and commercial ships" through the Strait of Hormuz.
The countries emphasized that lasting peace must be based on the United Nations Charter and international law.
"The only option"
Regarding the talks which the United States confirms while Iran denies them, the two governments stated that dialogue and diplomacy are "the only viable option to resolve conflicts".
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also "affirmed China and Pakistan's support for the concerned parties to start talks, with all parties committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use of force or the threat of using it during peace talks".
This came after the meeting of Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, where the ministers agreed to "enhance communication and strategic coordination regarding the situation in Iran and... make new efforts to call for peace", as stated by Beijing.
Wang supported Pakistani mediation efforts considering them "consistent with the common interests of all parties", according to a Chinese statement issued after the meeting. Wang also expressed that "China supports Pakistan and looks forward to it playing a unique and important role in calming the situation and resuming peace talks".
Dar's visit came after he hosted his Saudi, Egyptian, and Turkish counterparts on Sunday to discuss attempts to end the war that erupted in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
There are increasing concerns about the consequences of the war, including almost complete paralysis of maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
China is a major partner to Iran, but it has not announced any military assistance to Tehran, rather it has repeatedly called for a ceasefire.
Tehran has denied the occurrence of official talks with Washington, but it responded to President Donald Trump's 15-point plan to end the war via Islamabad, as reported by the Tasnim News Agency, citing an unnamed source.
While Pakistan is one of China's closest partners in the region, Beijing has called for "calm and restraint" in Islamabad's conflict with Afghanistan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced this month that a Chinese special envoy mediated between the two countries.
