China and Pakistan's Five-Point Proposal for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Regions

On March 31, 2026, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks in Beijing with Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East and put forward the following proposals:

1. Immediately stop hostilities. China-Pakistan calls for an immediate ceasefire to halt the fighting and to do everything possible to prevent the conflict from spreading and escalating. Allow humanitarian relief supplies to enter all areas affected by the war.

2. Open negotiations as soon as possible. The sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be upheld. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable means to resolve the conflict. China-Pakistan supports the parties concerned in initiating negotiations, and all parties should commit to resolving disputes through peaceful means. During the negotiations, none of the conflict parties should use or threaten to use force.

3. Ensure the safety of non-military targets. The principle of protecting civilians in a military conflict must not be breached. China-Pakistan calls on the conflict parties to immediately stop attacks on civilians and non-military targets, fully comply with international humanitarian law, and cease attacks on important infrastructure such as energy, seawater desalination, and electricity, as well as on peaceful nuclear facilities such as nuclear power stations.

4. Ensure the safety of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz and the waters nearby are important international corridors for the transport of goods and energy. China-Pakistan calls on all parties to protect the safety of ships and crews staying in the waters within the Strait of Hormuz, arrange for civil and commercial vessels to pass through as soon as possible in a safe manner, and restore the Strait’s normal navigation at the earliest possible time.

5. Ensure the primacy of the United Nations Charter. China-Pakistan holds that efforts should be made to practice genuine multilateralism, jointly promote the strengthening of the important role of the United Nations, and support agreements on building a comprehensive peace framework and achieving lasting peace, based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. (Xinhua News Agency)