Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hands with his Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing, People's Republic of China, February 14, 2023 (Handout of the Iranian Presidency Office)

The President of the People's Republic of China played a key role in bringing together Iran and Saudi Arabia in March to bring an end to over 7 years of torn diplomatic ties between the countries, according to the People's Daily, quoting a senior Chinese diplomat.

The Chinese President "personally persuaded the leaders of the two countries and supported Saudi and Iran to develop a friendly relationship as neighbors," Wang Di, the Director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of West Asian and North African Affairs, said.

The official underlined the role of foreign powers in promoting "long-term instability" in the region, which Beijing counteracted by pushing for stability and peace among the area's nations.

Wang accused the Western powers of deliberately encouraging conflict in favor of their own "self-interest".

The diplomat highlighted his country's role as a "fair mediator", as it will strive to maintain its position as a "promoter of peace and stability in the region for some 75 years."

China looks to expand mediation efforts

The recent establishment of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, under Chinese mediation, undermined the US role as the supposed hegemon in the Gulf region. The talks between the two countries opened up a climate that promoted peace and diplomacy in the region, which manifested itself in Yemeni-Saudi talks, as well as multiple visits of top Syrian officials to various Arab states and vice-versa.

Chinese mediation put forth Beijing's "diplomatic credibility" which was aided by its strong economic relations within the region, Oliver John of Washington-based think tank Middle East Influence said on Saturday.

The tensions which Western powers promoted culminated in various armed conflicts in the region, including the war on Syrian which China is seeking to bring a peaceful end to, Wang Di said to the People's Daily.