Beijing/Moscow, June 19 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on Thursday in which they strongly condemned Israeli military strikes on Iran, urged an immediate ceasefire, and stressed that diplomacy-not war-is the only path forward.

According to China's state news Xinhua, President Xi told Putin that China remains committed to playing a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East. He emphasized that international efforts should focus on "cooling down tensions" and facilitating dialogue among conflicting parties.

President Xi further urged all sides-especially Israel-to strictly follow international law and avoid causing harm to innocent civilians. He warned that escalating vio...