World

Iranian Foreign Minister to Visit China for Bilateral Discussions

By PTI

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit China on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. This visit follows their recent interactions during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, September 15, that Mr. Araghchi will meet with Mr. Wang, who also serves as a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China. This marks Mr. Araghchi's fifth visit to China since 2024. His trip to Beijing occurs shortly after his meetings with Mr. Wang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the BRICS summit, which took place in New Delhi from September 12-13. Mr. Araghchi attended the summit alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The visit takes place amid increased hostilities in West Asia, specifically following military advancements by the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah. This Iran-aligned Yemeni movement has intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia and gained control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The ongoing Iran-U.S. conflict has already impacted shipping and oil tanker movements in the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to an energy crisis. Regarding the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Monday that China is deeply concerned about civilian casualties and damage to energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure resulting from the recent escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea. Mr. Guo emphasized that regional instability benefits no one and that the sovereignty and security of all nations must be respected. He advocated for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels and urged relevant parties to exercise restraint, reduce tensions through communication and dialogue, and work towards de-escalation promptly.