Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held official talks on Monday with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, emphasizing the commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and regional stability.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, reaffirmed China’s friendly policy toward the Syrian people and respect for their independent choices. He stressed the importance of mutual respect for core interests, non-interference in domestic affairs, and restoring bilateral relations to a positive trajectory.

China appreciated Syria’s firm support for the “One-China” principle and called on Damascus to assist in safeguarding China’s core interests, including opposition to Taiwan independence. Wang also noted Syria’s pledge to prevent any entities from using its territory to harm Chinese interests and welcomed Syrian participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and other multilateral frameworks, including the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the United Nations.

Wang further reiterated China’s support for a “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” peace process, inclusive political dialogue, integration into the international community, and reconstruction plans aligned with the will of the Syrian people.

Foreign Minister al-Shibani confirmed Syria’s steadfast support for the One-China principle, opposition to terrorism, and commitment to ensuring that no actor uses Syrian territory against China’s national security. He also expressed Syria’s readiness to participate in China’s initiatives and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

Following the talks, both sides issued a joint statement highlighting their shared commitment to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.

Washington’s current approach toward Tehran does not indicate any readiness for “equal and fair negotiations”, Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday, after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted last week at potential discussions, Reuters reported.

Following Israel’s attack on Iran in June, which was joined by U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, attempts at renewing dialogue on Tehran’s nuclear programme have failed.

The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear programme as a veil for efforts to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Tehran and Washington underwent five rounds of indirect nuclear talks prior to the 12-days-war, but faced obstacles such as the issue of domestic uranium enrichment, which the U.S. wants Iran to forego, read the report.

“The U.S. cannot expect to gain what it couldn’t in war through negotiations,” Abbas Araqchi said during a Tehran conference named “international law under assault.”

“Iran will always be prepared to engage in diplomacy, but not negotiations meant for dictation,” he added.

During the same conference, deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh accused Washington of pursuing its wartime goals with “negotiations as a show”.

At least nine people were killed and 29 injured when a pile of confiscated explosives blew up at a police station in the Indian portion of Kashmir late on Friday, Reuters reported citing police sources, days after a car blast in New Delhi killed eight people.

Most of the dead were policemen, including forensic officials who were examining the explosives, said the sources, who did not wish to be named. Some of the injured are in critical condition, they said.

“The identification of the bodies is underway, as some have been completely burnt,” one of the sources said.

“The intensity of the blast was such that some body parts were recovered from nearby houses, around 100-200 metres away from the police station.”

The police chief of India’s federally administered Jammu and Kashmir region is expected to address a press conference on the incident shortly.

Earlier, a local police official told Reuters an explosion had ripped through Nowgam police station. The official said fire had engulfed the compound and fire tenders had been rushed to the spot.

The blast comes four days after a deadly car explosion in Indian capital New Delhi killed at least eight people in what the government has called a terror incident.

Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have for decades fought periodic wars over the disputed region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full and rule only in part.