On March 19, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the latter’s request, and the two sides exchanged views focusing on the current situation in the Middle East.

Yvette Cooper briefed on the UK’s perspective regarding the current Middle East situation, stating that in the face of an increasingly turbulent world, the UK hopes to maintain close communication with China to put an end to hostilities at an early date, resume diplomatic negotiations, and seek a long-term solution.

Wang Yi elaborated on China’s position, noting that the current conflict in the Middle East is escalating and hostilities are expanding, which not only undermines regional peace and stability but also directly impacts international energy, finance, trade, and shipping, thereby harming the common interests of all countries. A protracted war yields no winners; a ceasefire and an end to hostilities reflect the common aspiration of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, resolve differences through equal dialogue, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. As permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, China and the UK bear the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Both countries should enhance communication, consistently pursue actions conducive to peace, and jointly commit to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, so as to prevent further erosion of the international order and the foundations of world peace.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-UK relations and agreed that both countries should actively implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, enhance exchanges, and continuously advance the long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, so as to inject stability and certainty to a world marked by turbulence and change.