On April 18, Consul General Li Nan published a signed article titled “Peace Over Conflict: China Offers Four Points to Address the Middle East” in the Northern Ireland mainstream media the Irish News. The full text is as follows:

Chaos in Middle East has been dragging on for a long time and remains tense and fragile, drawing high concern from the international community. The conflict has caused heavy civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis, posing a grave threat to regional security and stability. It has also severely damaged global energy flows and international trade order, disrupted the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and seriously undermined the growth prospects of the world economy. The IMF recently revised down its global growth forecast for this year by 0.2 percentage points to 3.1%.

What should we do about this? As a permanent member of UNSC and responsible major country, China has maintained close communication and coordination with relevant parties, playing a constructive role by committing to ending hostilities and promoting peace.

China calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities to deescalate the tension of situation by returning to the track of genuine dialogue and negotiation. All parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, demonstrate political sincerity, accommodate each other’s legitimate security concerns through equal consultations, and jointly seek a lasting, just and sustainable solution to achieve peace and stability in the region at an early date.

On April 14, when meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, President Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposition on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, guiding the right direction to end the regional volatility.

First, we should stay committed to the principle of peaceful co-existence. The Gulf states in the Middle East are close neighbors that cannot move away. It’s important to support the Gulf states in improving their ties, work to build a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture of the Middle East and the Gulf region, and consolidate the foundation for peaceful co-existence.

Second, we should stay committed to the principle of national sovereignty. Sovereignty serves as a foundation for all countries, especially developing countries, to survive and thrive, and it must not be violated. The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf states should be earnestly respected, and the safety of their personnel, facilities and institutions vigorously safeguarded.

Third, we should stay committed to the principle of international rule of law. We should safeguard the authority of international rule of law, reject selective application, and prevent the world from returning to the law of the jungle. It is important to firmly uphold the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter.

Fourth, we should stay committed to a balanced approach to development and security. Security is a prerequisite for development, and development serves as a safeguard of security. All sides should work to create a sound environment for and bring positive energy to the development of the Gulf states. China stands ready to share with the Gulf countries the opportunities through Chinese modernization, and work with them to nurture a fertile ground for regional development and security.

In today’s global village of interdependence, all countries share a common future. We are all on the same giant ship of shared destiny, and only by pulling together in the same direction can we sail steadily and far. The current situation has reached a critical stage between war and peace, with a window for peace opening. We must always adhere to mutual respect and equality, stand for peace over war, unity over division, and dialogue over confrontation, resolve differences through dialogue and overcome challenges through cooperation. Going forward, China will continue to work with all peace-loving countries around the world to safeguard world peace and stability, promote development and prosperity, jointly advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and create an even better future for all.