China urges US to play 'constructive role' in Mideast
Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged the United States to play a "constructive role" in the Middle East during a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken. According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, China's top diplomat expressed Beijing's strong condemnation of a deadly Israeli airstrike that destroyed an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, earlier this month. The foreign minister emphasised the "inviolable" right to security of diplomatic institutions, and the need to respect the sovereignty of Iran and Syria. Mao said this round of escalation is the latest manifestation of the spillover from the Gaza conflict, adding that it's imperative for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. She added that China will continue to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Middle East issue, and urged the US to do the same. The US State Department says Blinken asked Beijing to use its influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel, after Tehran threatened to retaliate. Iran had urged the international community to take action against Israel following the attack. (Agencies)