<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="" title="China's"><span>China's</span></a><span> top diplomat has cast his country as a defender of peace and stability as war in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="" title="Iran"><span>Iran</span></a><span> rages, while striking a conciliatory tone towards the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="United States"><span>United States</span></a><span> ahead of a highly anticipated summit between the two nations' leaders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This was a war that should never have happened, and a war that benefited no one," Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, said at a news briefing yesterday on the sidelines of the annual assembly of China's rubber-stamp legislature.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wang, touting China as "the world's most important force of peace, stability and justice", reiterated Beijing's call for an immediate ceasefire to "prevent the situation from escalating and avoid the spillover and spread of the flames of war."</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-9-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headline/c2734fe0-11d0-4249-8470-a211aa4191e1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Seventh US soldier dies; Trump says new supreme leader 'won't last long'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All parties should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and resolve their differences through equal dialogue," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China's growing concern about the war with Iran comes as its top leader, Xi Jinping, prepares to host US President Donald Trump in Beijing for crucial talks between the world's two largest economies toward the end of this month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The summit is expected to address a wide range of key issues, from trade frictions to Taiwan.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/china-warns-flames-of-war-spreading-but-signals-its-welcome-for-xi-trump-meeting/0e979cfb-bf2e-4033-9e57-4c3603538ca3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adding a new layer of complication to the impending talks is now a rapidly escalating war in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran's leaders have long had close relations with Beijing. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China – like many other nations – has looked on with alarm at the killing of Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as the spike in oil prices and hit to the global economy sparked by the escalating conflict.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than a week after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the war has shown no signs of abating.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said on Friday that there would be </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-donald-trump-rules-out-negotiating-with-iran-unconditional-surrender/e16f67ed-4bbc-4d1e-9d93-5da95b04ad90" rel="" target="" title='no deal with Iran except "unconditional surrender"'><span>no deal with Iran except "unconditional surrender"</span></a><span>, without elaborating on specific demands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/how-to-fly-to-europe-from-australia-without-stopping-over-middle-east-explained/f9f0fe00-fa2d-48e8-853b-95e843c617ff" target="_blank"><strong><span>How can Aussie travellers get to Europe now major Middle East airports are shut?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Beijing has seized the moment to project an image of a reliable and responsible superpower – in a sharp contrast to the US, which has injected uncertainties into the world through new wars, the capture of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/venezuela-how-cocaine-and-corruption-led-to-the-indictment-of-maduro/2fa8a5f0-348a-4033-b2b6-eba314ae93c1" rel="" target="" title="Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro"><span>Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</span></a><span>, and the launch of a global trade war against close allies and China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Beijing has provided "the most precious source of stability and certainty for a turbulent world, becoming an irreplaceable anchor amid global chaos", Wang argued yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the same time, however, Wang called for continued engagement with Washington to address key differences, as he signalled his welcome for the upcoming summit between Xi and Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the two nations' leaders have set an example in helping the bilateral relationship achieve overall stability despite turbulence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What is needed now is for both sides to make thorough preparations, foster a conducive environment, manage existing differences, and eliminate unnecessary interference," Wang said Sunday, in response to a question by CNN's Steven Jiang.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"China and the United States are both major powers, and neither can change the other — but we can change the way we interact," he added, urging the US to move in the same direction.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>A confident China</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the same venue last year – shortly after Trump fired the first tariff salvo against China of his new administration, Wang warned the US against a "two-faced approach" in its relations with China, emphasising that Beijing "resolutely opposes power politics and hegemony".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the message last year was of warning amid uncertainties, the one this year was marked by confidence. China has largely weathered Trump's tariff attacks and validated its hardball strategy – while elevating its global standing as the American president triggers upheaval around the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A parade of traditionally close US allies, from French President Emmanuel Macron to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have visited China over the last few months – in a sign of Beijing's successful effort in courting them. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wang made a nod to that development.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mojtaba-khamenei-son-of-irans-supreme-leader-has-been-named-his-successor-iranian-state-tv-says/2af18a14-e341-4b8d-9e30-e3382d346e47" target="_blank"><strong><span>Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have noted that an increasing number of insightful figures in Europe recognise that China is not a competitor, but a global partner," he said, while urging more cooperation and trade between the two blocs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Chinese foreign minister also appeared to respond to Trump's attempt to position his Board of Peace as an alternative to the United Nations, vowing to champion multilateralism and protect the global organisation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Attempts to bypass the UN and start anew, to pursue a separate system, or to cobble together small blocs and exclusive circles gain no support and are unsustainable," Wang said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wang's press conference, however, did not address many of the issues that have rattled other countries and China's neighbours at a time of growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China has flooded the global market with its exports and weaponised its dominance in the production of rare earths, risking major disruption to the global supply chain. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has also stepped up military pressure against Taiwan as well as naval confrontations with the Philippines and Japan</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wang also made no mention of Ukraine, now in its fifth year of war with Moscow, while stressing China's relation with Russia is "unmoved by wind and rain, as stable as a mountain".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Beijing has refused to criticise Russia and has remained its key partner, acting as a crucial economic and diplomatic lifeline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"China and Russia share a high level of political mutual trust," Wang said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Standing back‑to‑back is a defining feature of the China–Russia relationship. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are not afraid of any external provocation or pressure."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><strong><span> </span></strong><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google 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