Middle East at critical point: China

BEIJING, Aug 24:  China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region had again reached a critical juncture and urged parties involved to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.

Wang made the remarks in a meeting with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in Beijing, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

Wang said "the old script of recurring conflict should not be repeated" and the top priority is to de-escalate the situation.

He said China was willing to strengthen coordination with Kuwait and continue contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

The meeting came as the U.S. threatened Iran with "the greatest financial offensive ever" targeting Iran's trade partners.

Iran dismissed the US threat and vowed to shut down all oil exports from the Gulf "if the economic war continues" and issued a new warning to shipping not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged a "diplomatic" solution to the Middle East crisis as he told the King of Jordan on Monday that the sovereignty of countries in the region should be respected.

Xi told King Abdullah II during talks in Beijing that China values Jordan's "unique and important role in the region", which was thrown into crisis after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.

"China has always advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire (and) resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means," Xi said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

"(China) believes the sovereignty and security of regional countries including Jordan should be respected," Xi said.

The Jordanian king has been on an official visit to China since August 18 -- his ninth trip to the country since taking the throne in 1999.
The US-allied kingdom has been caught in the middle of Washington's months-long war with Tehran.

The Chinese president also urged on Monday a "comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue", the foreign ministry statement said.

China supports "promoting the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks anchored on the correct direction of the 'two-state solution'," Xi said.�"AGENCIES