China,PakistanProposeFive-PointPeacePlantoEndGulfConflict

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

China and Pakistan have laid out a five-point peace initiative aimed at halting the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the rapid restoration of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar presented the joint proposal during a meeting in Beijing on March 31, according to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang and Dar exchanged views on the regional crisis before outlining the following framework.

China and Pakistan called for an immediate ceasefire to stop the conflict from spreading. The two nations urged all factions to allow humanitarian relief supplies unrestricted access to all areas impacted by the war.

The initiative stated that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and the Gulf states must be preserved. Emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy are “the only viable paths to resolving the conflict,” Beijing and Islamabad voiced support for the involved parties to begin negotiations and commit to a peaceful resolution. Wang and Dar stressed that no party should use — or threaten to use — military force during the peace talks.

Declaring the protection of civilians during military conflicts a principle that cannot be breached, the two countries urged all warring parties to immediately halt attacks on civilians and non-military targets. They called for comprehensive compliance with international humanitarian law and an end to strikes on vital infrastructure — including energy, water desalination, and power facilities — as well as peaceful nuclear plants.

Describing the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters as a crucial international artery for goods and energy, China and Pakistan called on all sides to protect the safety of ships and crews currently stranded in the waterway. The proposal urges authorities to arrange safe transit for civilian and commercial vessels and restore normal navigation in the strait as quickly as possible.

The joint statement advocated for the practice of genuine multilateralism and a strengthened role for the United Nations. Both countries expressed support for reaching an agreement on a comprehensive peace framework and lasting stability based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.