China and Pakistan on Tuesday urged an immediate halt to fighting in the Gulf and wider Middle East, unveiling a five-point proposal that calls for talks, protection of civilians and the restoration of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal followed a March 31 meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, both sides said they had reviewed the regional crisis and agreed on steps they believe could help prevent it from spreading.
Their statement called for hostilities to stop immediately and said humanitarian aid must reach all areas hit by the fighting. It also pushed for peace talks to begin without delay, saying the sovereignty and security of Iran and the Gulf states must be respected.
China and Pakistan also urged all sides to stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets and to avoid striking critical infrastructure, including energy, power and desalination facilities. The statement further called for protection of ships and crews in the Strait of Hormuz and for normal civilian and commercial transit to resume quickly.
In the final point, the two countries backed the U.N. Charter and called for a wider peace effort based on international law.
Five-Point Initiative of China and Pakistan For Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region:
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