Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

In response to a question that, according to reports, a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report warned that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could push global economy to the brink of recession, lowering this year's global growth forecast by 0.2 percentage points, while UN agencies estimate the war could push an additional 45 million people into hunger and up to 32 million into poverty, with some Pacific island countries declaring emergencies over energy shortages, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that the IMF report once again shows the conflict has not only caused heavy casualties and losses, but also generated severe spillover effects, dragging down global economic growth and livelihood improvement.

Guo said this war should not have happened in the first place, and the international community, especially the least developed countries, should not be made to bear the cost or pay for it. He stressed that the top priority is to prevent a resurgence of hostilities, restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region, so as to avoid greater shocks to the global economy and energy security and even triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Global Times