China Hopes Tehran, Riyadh Can Settle Differences

Describing China as a friend of Saudi Arabia and Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday he hopes both countries can resolve their differences through talks, ahead of a visit by the Saudi king to China. China has traditionally played a small role in Middle East conflicts or diplomacy, despite its reliance on the region for oil. But it has been trying to get more involved in efforts to end Syria's six-year-old civil war, where Riyadh supports rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad and Tehran backs the Syrian government, Reuters reported. "We hope that Saudi Arabia and Iran can resolve the problems that exist between them via equal and friendly consultations," Wang said at his annual news conference on the sidelines of a parliamentary session. "China is friends with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. If there is a need, China is willing to play its necessary role," he added.