BEIJING, April 14 -- President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that China would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East as he urged respect for sovereignty of nations in the war-torn region, state media reported.

Xi made the comments as he met with Abu Dhabi Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, where he outlined proposals for maintaining peace in the Middle East and Gulf.

A first round of discussions between Iran and the United States held in Pakistan over the weekend failed to produce a deal, with US Vice President JD Vance proclaiming the ball was now in Iran's court to end the war.

"Xi Jinping stressed China's principled stance of promoting peace and urging talks, and reiterated it...