China committed to playing constructive role in Middle East, says envoy

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun speaks to journalists at the UN headquarters in New York Jan. 6, 2020. - Xinhua

UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua): A Chinese envoy said Monday (Jan 6) that China is committed to playing a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"China follows the situation very closely and the pressing task at the moment is to prevent the situation from further escalating and running out of control. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China is carrying out active diplomatic efforts," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.