Moscow, Beijing have similar approaches to resolving Middle East crises, says Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Moscow and Beijing are showing close approaches to the settlement of crises in the Middle East using political and diplomatic tools, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday following consultations between Russian Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Le Yucheng, in Beijing. The Russian diplomat also held a meeting with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong. "During their frank exchange of views on a range of issues on the Middle East agenda, the main focus was placed on the current situation in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, the Persian Gulf and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement," reads the statement. "It was stated that Moscow and Beijing have similar and close approaches to the settlement of crises in the Middle East using political and diplomatic tools in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law and the provisions of the UN Charter." The parties have agreed to "maintain an active dialogue on urgent issues on the Middle East agenda that present mutual interest".