China, Pakistan call for start of peace talks as soon as possible, state media reports

AL-MONITOR
Mar 31, 2026
A woman talks on a phone while standing amid a damaged residential neighbourhood hit by a strike as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Tehran, Iran, March 30, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
A woman talks on a phone while standing amid a damaged residential neighbourhood hit by a strike as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Tehran, Iran, March 30, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS — Majid-Asgaripour

March 31 (Reuters) - Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to war in the Gulf and Middle East regions, urging peace talks to be held as soon as possible, Pakistan's foreign ministry and China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

The diplomats also said the safety of waterways should be ensured and that of ships and crews stranded in the waters within the Strait of Hormuz, Xinhua said.

The countries made the appeal in a five-point initiative released on Tuesday for restoring peace and stability in the region, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

(Reporting by Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo, Ariba Shahid, Sakshi Dayal)

You're reading a free AL-MONITOR Original

Want more like this?

AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.

Terms and Privacy