According to Huanqiu Times, Mao Ning was asked at the November 3 regular press conference about visits to China by senior national security officials from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Reporters also asked whether China plans trilateral talks with Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Mao said Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, had met the Iranian and Saudi national security chiefs separately in Beijing, and that China had already released information on the meetings. The reports we reviewed gave no specific answer on trilateral talks, so that remains unconfirmed.

‘Promote dialogue, ease the situation’

‘China is willing to continue playing a positive role in promoting dialogue and easing the situation,’ Mao said. China has long stressed settling Middle East issues through dialogue and negotiation. Whether she outlined a specific mediation approach or timetable was not confirmed.

Why the APEC ministerial is by video

In a separate question, Mao said that China, as this year's APEC host, attaches great importance to the meeting. After weighing various factors and with efficiency in mind, she said, China decided to hold the joint foreign and trade ministers' meeting by video.

Mao expressed confidence that, with joint efforts, the meeting would deliver positive results and lay a solid foundation for the APEC leaders' informal meeting. The meeting date, the scale of participation and the specific factors behind the video choice were not given in the reports we reviewed and are unconfirmed.