China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country is deeply concerned about fighting in the Middle East and the surrounding areas, and that Beijing will send an envoy to the relevant countries in the near future.

Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Tuesday: “China will soon dispatch a special envoy to visit the countries in these areas in order to strengthen communication with the relevant parties, advance contact and dialogue, help reduce tensions, and prevent the situation from worsening further.”

He urged the relevant parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations, and also expressed concern about the spillover and transfer of clashes in the Middle East to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

Last week, the foreign ministers of China and Djibouti met in Beijing and stressed the need to reduce tensions in the Middle East, saying that it is a key factor in addressing security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.