Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China appreciates Pakistan's untiring efforts to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, saying China supports Pakistan in continuing to play a mediating role.

Wang made the remarks in a phone call with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, reiterating China's commitment to strengthening strategic communication and coordination with Pakistan, and to working together to promote peace and stability in the region.

Wang added that initiating peace talks "is no easy task", but that dialogue was the only way to avoid further casualties and losses, prevent the fighting from spreading and help restore normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said that China and Pakistan, as strategic partners who trust and support each other, have maintained an objective and impartial position on the conflict and hold broadly similar views.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, Wang has spoken with foreign ministers from multiple countries as part of China's diplomatic efforts to promote a ceasefire and a return to negotiations. His phone call with Dar was the latest in that endeavor and their second exchange in just over two weeks.

Dar briefed Wang on the latest situation in Iran and thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation efforts, saying a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and the restoration of peace are the common aspirations of all parties.

Dar said that the situation had reached a critical moment for restarting talks and urged the international community to encourage the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table. Pakistan stands ready to work with China to play a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war, he added.

According to media reports, US officials are using Pakistani mediation to explore an off-ramp from the war with Iran, with indirect talks in Pakistan under consideration. "In reality, US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan. In this context, the US has shared 15 points, being deliberated upon by Iran," Dar wrote in a social media post on Thursday.