China and Pakistan are "open" to responses to and wider participation in their five-point initiative for restoring peace in the Gulf region and the Middle East, a spokeswoman for Beijing's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"China will continue to maintain close communication with Pakistan and other relevant parties to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire and ending the conflict," Mao Ning said at a daily press briefing.

The five-point initiative, which urges an immediate cessation of hostilities in the war begun by the United States and Israel at the end of February, was proposed Tuesday during talks in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The initiative also stresses the need to protect the security of nonmilitary targets and shipping lanes and uphold the primacy of the United Nations Charter.

China and Pakistan "have issued a rational and just proposal as important members of the Global South", Mao said.

She added that the two countries aim to "foster greater consensus in the international community and build on collaboration to contribute to easing the current tensions and restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf region and the Middle East as soon as possible".