Today's Edition
Beijing (AFP)
China's top diplomat Wang Yi held phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Saturday, the foreign ministry said.
Iran and Israel exchanged fire on Saturday, a day after Israel unleashed an aerial bombing campaign that targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
International calls for restraint are multiplying as fears grow the region could be on the threshold of a broader conflict.
China's foreign ministry released separate statements late on Saturday announcing Wang's phone calls with his counterparts.
Wang first spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
A second statement released shortly afterwards detailed Wang's talk with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
Wang recounted his phone call with Araghchi to Saar, the statement said.
"Diplomatic means for the Iranian nuclear issue have not been exhausted and there is still hope for a peaceful solution. Force cannot bring lasting peace," Wang was quoted as saying.
He told both men that China was willing to play "a constructive role" in de-escalating the conflict.
