Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin Photo: mfa.gov.cn

China maintains close communication with both Iran and Pakistan, and is willing to continue playing a positive and constructive role in improving the relationship according to their needs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Monday, with Chinese experts noting that as a responsible power, China has played a crucial part in promoting the relationship between the two countries in the long run.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks during a regular press conference on Monday when asked about whether China is mediating between Iran and Pakistan after the two countries conducted strikes inside each other's territory.

Wang said China maintains close communication with Iran and Pakistan, emphasizing that the two countries are friendly neighbors and both are good friends of China. The spokesperson noted that China has always been committed to maintaining regional and international peace and stability, supporting Iran and Pakistan in resolving their differences through dialogue and consultation.

"China is also willing to continue playing a positive and constructive role in improving the relationship between the two countries according to their needs," Wang said.

On Sunday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu had a phone call with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, during which the two sides had an exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Mohammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Saturday. The two sides had an exchange of views on the current international and regional situation, stressing that China and Pakistan will strengthen coordination and cooperation and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

"While having friendly relations with both countries, China is committed to promoting the relationship between Iran and Pakistan in the long run," Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Qian noted that China has played a crucial role as a responsible power by promoting bilateral relations of the two countries and regional peace and stability unaffected by issues such as border disputes between Iran and Pakistan.

Chinese experts said that Iran and Pakistan respect China's role in regional and international affairs, and China will continue to play an essential part as a mediator, so as to promote Iran and Pakistan to resolve their differences through diplomatic channels, as well as to build trust and dispel doubts.

According to Reuters, Pakistan launched strikes inside Iran on Thursday, two days after Tehran said it struck the bases of another group within Pakistani territory.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China believes that relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law and that countries' sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected and safeguarded.

Mao said that Iran and Pakistan are close neighbors and both have influence and keep friendly relations with China, and China sincerely hopes that the two sides will remain calm and restraint and avoid escalation of the tension. "If there is need from the two sides, we would like to play a constructive role in cooling down the situation," Mao noted.