ISTANBUL

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for addressing the "root cause" of the Iran conflict while meeting with Jonathan Powell in Beijing.

Wang outlined China’s "objective and impartial stance," warning that the spillover effects of the situation in Iran are "widening" and that a prolonged conflict would only lead to more casualties and serious repercussions, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He urged all parties “not to add fuel to the fire,” to tackle the root cause, and to bring the issue back onto the track of political settlement through “dialogue and negotiation”.

Wang also highlighted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China earlier this year, saying it demonstrates that building a "long-term, consistent, and comprehensive strategic partnership" between Beijing and London is "the will of the people" and in line with the times.

"It also shows that as long as both sides work in the same direction and engage in constructive dialogue, challenges and problems can be properly addressed," Wang said.

He urged the two sides to implement leader-level consensus, carry out exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation in various fields, and effectively manage differences to promote stable bilateral ties.

Powell expressed London’s willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation and jointly develop a "long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership."

They also discussed the Ukraine crisis and other issues.

Regional escalation has continued since the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as locations in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.