BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China will continue working with all sides, including those involved in relevant conflicts in the Middle East, to maintain communication, step up mediation efforts and pool consensus, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday at a daily press briefing.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a related query about rising regional tensions following military strikes against Iran by the United States and Israel.

China will send Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, to the region in the near future to work for the deescalation of the tense situation, the spokesperson said.  ■