The Iranian Foreign Minister, Araghchi, met with Foreign Minister Wang this morning, and released two official photos of the meeting (Figure 1, Figure 2).
This visit—arranged at a critical and sensitive moment—marks Araghchi’s first trip to China since the outbreak of war, following his recent shuttle diplomacy with Pakistan, Oman, and Russia at the end of last month.
From the itinerary perspective, this was an urgent arrangement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its press release yesterday evening at 7:00 PM (Figure 3).
At that time, Araghchi had already boarded the plane bound for Beijing.
The press release simply stated “invited to visit China on May 6th,” whereas standard announcements usually specify the full duration—such as “from X to Y.”
Perhaps Araghchi’s visit will last only one day, or it may be subject to change depending on evolving circumstances.
In short, congratulations to the Iranians—they’ve made it through to today.
China has accorded Araghchi the appropriate level of protocol for his visit.
In fact, not every foreign dignitary visiting China is formally described as “visiting.” For example, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Daulat on March 31st was said to have “come to China” without using the term “visit” (Figure 4)—indicating a purely functional, non-diplomatic meeting.
Personally, I believe Araghchi’s visit today falls into this category. However, since he is officially “invited to visit China,” the reception and arrangements follow standard procedures: handshake with journalists, bilateral talks, and publicly permitted photography and videography are all allowed.
This is a gesture of courtesy toward Araghchi, reflecting China’s appreciation for Iran’s position.
More importantly, both sides have significant matters to discuss.
Wang Yi stated that the current moment represents a pivotal juncture in the “transition from war to peace.” Face-to-face dialogue between the two sides is both necessary and timely. The war has severely disrupted regional and global peace and stability, and China deeply regrets this. Stopping the conflict urgently is imperative; further efforts must be made to de-escalate tensions and prevent further escalation.
China’s position has clearly emphasized the urgency of ending hostilities. De-escalation concerns every party involved—including Iran, which bears clear responsibility.
Araghchi highly praised China’s firm stance, expressing gratitude for China standing on the right side of history. During the war, he had spoken with Foreign Minister Wang three times. China remains a true friend of Iran. Under the new circumstances, he believes cooperation will be even more resolute than before.
Looking at Figure 2, the official seated to Araghchi’s right is Dr. Fazli, Iran’s ambassador. Notably, the accompanying delegation lacks the extensive entourage seen during Iran’s previous negotiations with Americans in Pakistan—no senior officials with deep expertise in nuclear technology, for instance.
This subtly indicates that Araghchi personally coming to Beijing is primarily intended to convey Iran’s gratitude and sincerity. His direct engagement with China is sufficient. After all, this is not a negotiation mission.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864413238405120/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.