The top diplomats of China and Iran have agreed that the Middle East is “not a battleground for the big powers” and should not be an arena of geopolitical competition between countries outside the region, AFP reports.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi agreed that “the international community should respect the sovereignty, security, stability, unity and territorial integrity of Middle East countries”, according to a readout from Beijing’s foreign ministry.

“The two sides agreed that the Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East, and is not a battleground for the big powers, and should not be a victim of geopolitical competition and conflicts between countries from outside the region,” the ministry said.

The two major trading partners reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, the proper implementation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the “integrated promotion of counter-terrorism, reconciliation and humanitarian processes in Syria”, according to the readout.

Araghchi is on his first visit to China since being appointed foreign minister of Iran. China and Iran were both supporters of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is an ardent opponent of Tehran.