China: Saudi royal calls for diplomacy to resolve Middle East conflicts.

A senior Saudi royal has urged diplomatic efforts and international cooperation as the best way to resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, stressing negotiations should take priority over military confrontation. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East was a "very dark scene." Prince Turki said settlements in the region should be achieved through negotiations and consultations, a position he noted is shared by China, which brokered a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran three years ago. He expressed his hope for the Chinese People's Liberation Army, which will mark its centenary next year. Launched in 2006 as a "track-two" think-tank exchange, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has grown into a major international security platform that brings together government officials, military leaders and scholars from around the world. Nearly 2,000 official representatives, scholars and observers from more than 100 countries, regions and international organizations gathered from Tuesday to Thursday for this year's forum. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Sept 16-17, 2026: 1. Various of signs, flags at venue of 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum; Beijing, China - Sept 16, 2026 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (partially overlaid with shots 3-4): "The conflict there needs cooperation on a worldwide basis to overcome these challenges and reach peace. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during this past conflict, has been trying to end the war and convince the Americans that they should end the war with the Iranians and to have negotiations through diplomacy rather than through military means. Unfortunately, the Iranians, while they were attacked by America, they attacked us. And we're in the middle of that murky, very dark scene where we see lives being lost because of the ambitions of either Israel on one side or Iran on the other side."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Tehran, Iran - April 10, 2023 3. Traffic, rows of national flags of Iran by roadsides; FILE: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 2022 4. National flags of Saudi Arabia, traffic; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Beijing, China - Date unknown 5. Building of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Beijing, China - Sept 16, 2026 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies: "And this is, fortunately for us, this is the position of China. As you know, China was host to the Saudi-Iranian settlement of their differences three years ago."; FILE: Beijing, China - April 6, 2023 7. National flags of Iran, China, Saudi Arabia; Beijing, China - Sept 16, 2026 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies: "Well, I hope they continue their peaceful intentions to the rest of the world. China has been a staunch supporter of diplomacy over warfare."; Beijing, China - Sept 16-17, 2026 9. Various of 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in progress, attendees. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda]