China to send envoy to Mideast to help de-escalate tensions

China will send its special envoy on Middle Eastern issues to the region to help de-escalate tensions, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

Zhai Jun will travel to the Middle East “in the near future and make active efforts to help de-escalate tensions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing in Beijing.

Since the start of the Iran war, China has conducted “intensive mediation efforts,” Mao said.