The foreign ministers of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, urging all parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy amid the continuing US-Iran war.
In a joint statement released on Friday, China and the 11-member ASEAN bloc said the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and its wider repercussions pose a serious threat to civilian lives, regional stability and the global economy.
The statement followed a summit of Chinese and ASEAN foreign ministers held on Wednesday in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship.
The ministers stressed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.
Their appeal comes as the United States and Iran continue exchanging military strikes for a 13th consecutive day, despite signing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding last month to uphold a ceasefire reached on April 8 and pursue negotiations aimed at permanently ending the conflict.
The ministers called on both sides to remain committed to multilateralism, genuine dialogue and diplomacy, and to seek a lasting settlement based on the UN Charter and international law.
They also urged the United States and Iran to ensure the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire by adhering strictly to its terms.
Calling for the exercise of “utmost restraint,” the ministers demanded an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities across the Middle East, while urging respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, they also called for the safe, uninterrupted and continuous passage of commercial vessels through international waterways in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.