（By H. E. Wang Di, Chinese Ambassador to Canada）

In just one month, the unabated war in Iran has caused enormous casualties and losses, dealt a severe blow to the regional and global peace and stability, and caused extensive disruptions to global economic development. This is not in the common interest of regional countries and the international community. People in the region and the whole world all hope and call for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities.

Since the outbreak of the war, China has been actively working for peace. On March 31st, 2026, China and Pakistan put forward the Five-Point Initiative of China and Pakistan for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region. This is voice of reason and justice from China and Pakistan, two important countries in the Global South, in the hope of building up consensus and pooling stronger efforts in the international community, to ease the ongoing tension, and restore peace and tranquility in the Gulf and Middle East region at soon as possible. The initiative can be summed up in three words: cease, talk, and ensure. More specifically, the two sides put forward the following: 

I. Immediate Cessation of Hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.

II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.

III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.

IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.

V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the U.N., and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.

The history of the Middle East has repeatedly demonstrated that force is not a viable solution. Confrontation through arms only generates new hatred and plants the seeds of future crises. The pressing priority is to realize a ceasefire. The way out is through dialogue and negotiation. Negotiating is always better than fighting. China has been working tirelessly for peace, and we hope that relevant parties will seize every opportunity and window for peace and start peace talks as soon as possible.

The Five-Point Initiative of China and Pakistan is open and we welcome response and participation of all other countries and international organizations. Recently, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has had a phone call with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during which they discussed issues including the Middle East situation. China wishes to work together with Canada and play a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and ending hostilities. Let’s actively implement the Global Security Initiative, jointly amplify the voice of global justice, and encourage relevant parties to restore order to the Middle East, bring peace and stability to its people, and contribute to peace in the world at an early date.