Middle East people should have all power to maintain security, development: Chinese FM

BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The power to maintain security and development in the Middle East should be totally returned to the people in the region, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

China, as a strategic partner of Middle Eastern countries, has firmly supported these countries in solving regional security issues through unity and coordination, and has firmly supported people in the region in independently exploring their own development paths, Wang said at a press conference.

China has always played a constructive role in the Middle East, Wang said, stressing the country never intends to make political gains, still less to fill a so-called "power vacuum."

Support must be given to Middle Eastern countries as they promote peace through unity, pursue stability through self-reliance and achieve development through cooperation to bring enduring peace and prosperity to the region, Wang added.