China to Send Envoy to Middle East to Promote Dialogue, De-escalation

October 27, 2026 at 10:16 PM
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BEIJING: China will send a special envoy to countries in the Middle East, the Gulf region, the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa to promote dialogue and de-escalation amid concerns over prolonged conflicts and their potential spillover, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

“China is closely following developments in the Middle East, the Gulf region, the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, and is deeply concerned over the protracted conflicts and their spillover effects,” Guo said at a daily press briefing.

He said the envoy would engage with relevant parties to strengthen communication, promote dialogue and prevent the situation from deteriorating further. “China will send special envoys to countries in those regions to promote dialogue and de-escalation,” Guo said.

Guo called on related parties to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref earlier this month and told him that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, according to China’s state-run media Xinhua.

Li urged “all parties concerned” to opt for peace, resume dialogue and negotiations, and resolve differences through political and diplomatic means so as to help restore peace to the region at an early date, according to Xinhua.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing last September.

Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran have sharpened recently, with President Trump saying last week that his country may strike Iran again.

Qatar Says Iran Needs to Show Good Intentions

A spokesperson for the Qatari ​Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that Iran needed to show good intentions for mediation efforts to succeed.

The Qatari ​Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a press briefing that Iran ⁠should stop threats against Arab Gulf states ​and open the Strait of Hormuz to show good ​intentions.

Qatar, along with Pakistan, has been mediating between Washington and Tehran in an effort to end the Iran war ​that has disrupted global shipping and oil ​supplies.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday discussed the Middle East war and the blockaded Strait of Hormuz during a meeting in Moscow on the sidelines of an energy forum, the emir’s office said.

“They reviewed developments in the regional situation, foremost among them the latest on the negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy supplies,” a statement said.

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