China’s Xi urges political soulotion for Yemen

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a political solution to the crisis in Yemen as Saudi Arabia continues to pound the impoverished Arab with daily aerial strikes.

“The situation in Yemen concerns the security and stability of the Middle East, especially the [Persian] Gulf region, and efforts on the political resolution process for the Yemen issue ought to be speeded up,” China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as telling Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a Saturday telephone call.

The Chinese leader stressed the need for all parties involved in the crisis to step up efforts to help ensure stability in the country.

He added that Beijing seeks “to keep in close touch and coordinate with all parties to jointly push for an appropriate resolution at the earliest stage for the Yemen issue.”

The Saudi ruler, in turn, expressed his readiness to “make efforts to resume peace and stability there as soon as possible,” according to the Chinese ministry.

The kingdom launched its military aggression against Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate, in a bid to restore power to fugitive former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh.

According to sources in the Yemeni army, more than 2,600 people have been killed during the aggression.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen is rapidly deteriorating. Many international aid organizations have sought clearances to dispatch medical and other humanitarian supplies by air and sea to civilians in need.