China calls on building a multilateral dialogue platform for the Persian Gulf region on the basis of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, to discuss the existing regional security issues, manage the crisis through collective consultation, inject momentum into deescalating the tension and reaching new consensus on maintaining peace and stability of the region, said State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi when attending a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Persian Gulf region in Beijing via video link on October 20, 2020.

Wang Yi said, the platform will be equal and open. He suggested all parties follow the principles of mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, join the dialogue process and address their respective concerns through consultation on an equal footing. While the signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the Gulf countries are participants by nature, other non-Gulf countries may also bring forth their reasonable appeals and make contributions to regional security and stability.

The platform will be an action-oriented one. Wang Yi suggested all parties follow the principle of reciprocity, synchronization and meeting each other halfway, and focus on building trust and releasing goodwill. As an early outcome, all parties could start by pledging to cease hostilities and refrain from resolving conflicts by military means, so as to move towards the common goal of maintaining regional peace and stability. The Security Council should support and assist all parties in taking meaningful actions.

The platform will aim at making continuous progress. Wang Yi suggested all parties proceed from the specific issues with common interests easily found, build consensus and work together to solve the easier issues first and then move on to the difficult ones, and dynamically adjust the agenda to ensure gradual progress. The Security Council may endorse the dialogue outcomes in a timely manner and encourage continuous dialogues. China is open to how to implement the initiative and is willing to strengthen the communication with other countries proposing similar initiatives in order to integrate the initiatives for synergy.