China and Pakistan have launched a coordinated diplomatic push to end the fighting in Iran and stabilize one of the world's most critical energy corridors, positioning themselves at the forefront of efforts to de-escalate a war that has shaken global markets and maritime security.
The five-point initiative, announced on March 31 after high-level talks in Beijing between China's top diplomat Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, calls for an immediate cease-fire, the swift start of peace negotiations, and urgent steps to safeguard commercial shipping routes, particularly through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
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China, Pakistan Coordinate On Iran Talks As War Disrupts Global TradeIn a joint statement, Beijing and Islamabad urged "the immediate cessation of hostilities" and warned against further escalation that could expand the conflict beyond Iran.
The statement stressed that "utmost efforts" must be made "to prevent the conflict from spreading," underscoring fears that additional regional and global actors could be drawn in.
The proposal comes amid mounting concern over disruptions to maritime traffic in the Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz serves as a key artery for global oil supplies. Any prolonged instability there risks intensifying economic shocks far beyond the region.
Asked about the China-Pakistan initiative in a brief March 31 phone interview with Axios, US President Donald Trump told the outlet that diplomatic "negotiations with Iran are going well" without specifying.
Pakistan has also signaled its willingness to play a mediating role. Over the weekend, Islamabad said it was prepared to host talks between the United States and Iran, following discussions among regional diplomats aimed at bringing both sides closer to the negotiating table.
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What China's Xi Is Learning From War In IranDar's visit to Beijing followed a separate round of talks he hosted on March 29 with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, part of a broader regional push to contain a conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
While China remains a key partner of Iran, it has refrained from offering military support, instead consistently calling for restraint and a negotiated resolution.
Tehran, for its part, has publicly denied engaging in direct talks with Washington, though some reports suggest it has conveyed a response to Trump's proposed 15-point peace framework through Pakistani intermediaries.
On March 26, Dar said Islamabad has been serving as a conduit for message exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
The deepening coordination between China and Pakistan highlights their close strategic partnership, even as Beijing continues to urge restraint in Islamabad's own regional tensions, including its relationship with Afghanistan.
Separately, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that a special envoy recently spent a week mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan, reflecting Beijing's broader effort to position itself as a stabilizing diplomatic force across the region.