China says Iran-Saudi pact key to stamping out 'external interference' in region

China has praised an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after seven years of hostility, saying the pact will help regional countries to get rid of foreign interference and take the future into their own hands.

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, Iran and Saudi Arabia finally clinched a deal on Friday to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions within two months.

According to the statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia highlighted the need to respect each others’ national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and China expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security, it emphasized.

Iran, Saudi Arabia agree to resume relations, re-open embassies

Iran and Saudi Arabia agree in the Chinese capital of Beijing to restore their diplomatic relations seven years after they were severed over several issues.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday that the dialogue and agreement between Tehran and Riyadh "set a good example of how countries in the region can resolve disputes and differences and achieve good neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation."

The agreement, he said, “will help regional countries to get rid of external interference and take the future into their own hands.”

The spokesperson emphasized that Beijing pursues no selfish interest whatsoever in the Middle East, respects the stature of the regional countries and opposes "geopolitical competition" in this region.

"China always believes that the future of the Middle East should always be in the hands of the countries in the region. China always supports the people in the Middle East in independently exploring their development paths and supports Middle East countries in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation to jointly promote lasting peace and stability in the region," the diplomat said.

The Foreign Ministry official added that China seeks to promote security and stability in the Middle East, supports its development through solidarity and become a partner for development and prosperity.

"China will continue to contribute its insights and proposals to realizing peace and tranquility in the Middle East and play its role as a responsible major country in this process," the spokesperson said.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, enraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi government, stormed its embassy in Tehran.

The two sides had held five rounds of negotiations in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad since April 2021.

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