End the conflicts for the sake of humanity

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has once again called for an end to two major conflicts that are profoundly affecting the world today. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, Guterres emphasized that after more than four years of hostilities, it is high time for a full and immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In the Middle East, Guterres appealed for maximum restraint in a message on X, referring not just to the war between the United States and Iran since the US and Israel launched unprovoked strikes on Iran six months ago, but also to the conflict in Lebanon and Gaza, where Israeli forces have continued military operations.

I can't remember how many times the UN Secretary-General has made such appeals. His calls reflect the thinking of most people in this world, including the people in countries directly involved in the conflicts, as various polls have indicated.

Leaders from the conflicting countries have also publicly expressed their intent for negotiations, although there are significant differences in the conditions they laid out.

The situation on the ground is looking increasingly bleak. The tit-for-tat escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has continued, with both sides targeting energy, infrastructure and logistics facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even warned airlines on Tuesday to avoid Russian airspace, which he said would be "completely unsafe" under Ukraine drones.

Meanwhile, in renewed hostilities this week, Iran targeted US bases in the Gulf region after the US military attacked Iranian military facilities, including a missile strike that killed five people at a wedding celebration.

These conflicts have inflicted huge suffering on the people in these countries. Casualties in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have been high for both countries, according to various reports.

The global repercussions have been equally severe, with the two major conflicts disrupting the global economy, driving up energy and food prices and disturbing global supply chains. That is especially daunting for many developing countries with limited capacities to deal with such shockwaves.

It is absurd for some in the West to claim that China is the biggest winner in the US-Iran conflict, citing a loss of US credibility in the Gulf region and opportunities for China's clean energy initiatives.

Like most countries, China has opposed both conflicts from the very beginning. It has consistently called for immediate ceasefires and negotiated settlements.

As a major trading partner for more than 160 countries, China's interests are best served by peace and stability in every part of the world, especially in strategic regions such as the Strait of Hormuz.

China's interests would have been best served if the US and Israel had not launched attacks against Iran in the first place. And if the US had not waged wars from Afghanistan to Iraq to Libya, wars that many in the US also regard as strategic blunders.

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, concerns over reckless NATO expansion, which was a major reason for Russia's special military operation in February 2022, should be addressed.

I have repeatedly argued that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield, only more death and destruction, and the risk of a wider, even nuclear, war. It is perplexing that political leaders don't share such common sense. During my time in Brussels, European Union and NATO leaders seemed more focused on defeating Russia instead of pursuing relentless diplomacy.

Public fatigue with the Ukraine conflict is steadily rising in Europe.

It is disheartening to see the EU prioritizing the development of defense industries over its once-landmark European Green Deal or digital and technological ambitions.

The situation might have been very different if Ukraine and the EU had supported, instead of pouring cold water on, China's peace efforts, including the 12-point position paper on the Ukraine crisis in February 2023 and the diplomatic mission led by its special envoy Li Hui.

Diplomacy and negotiations are always preferable to war and bombings. It's difficult to understand why some political leaders still stubbornly believe otherwise.

The author is a China Daily columnist.

chenweihua@chinadaily.com.cn