The top US diplomat, during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, had a "productive" one-hour phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as reported by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
“Our message was that he thinks it’s in our shared interest to stop the conflict from spreading.” Miller told reporters on Blinken’s plane from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi.
“He thought it could be useful if China could use its influence.”
China enjoys a close relationship with Iran. Iran's clerical leadership lends its support to both Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza, which recently perpetrated violent attacks within Israel, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization that has the potential to initiate a second front against Israel.
Wang, on his end, expressed that the United States should "assume a constructive and responsible role, steering the situation toward a swift political resolution."
“When dealing with international hot-spot issues, major countries must adhere to objectivity and fairness, maintain calmness and restraint, and take the lead in abiding by international law,” said Wang.
The Chinese foreign minister added that Beijing called for “the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus”.
“The fundamental outlet for the Palestinian issue lies in implementing a ‘two-state solution’,” said Wang.
China’s official statements on the conflict have not specifically named Hamas in their condemnations of violence, leading to criticism from some Western officials who said they were too weak.
The United States views China as its primary global competitor, yet the two nations have been making efforts to improve their relationship. Secretary of State Blinken paid a rare visit to Beijing in June, signifying diplomatic engagement.
According to Miller, the Middle East serves as an illustrative example of regions where these two major powers could potentially collaborate.
The phone call also encompassed a conversation regarding China-US relations, which have endured significant strain in recent years due to various complex trade and geopolitical matters.
