The Chinese leader said his country opposes "any act that infringes upon the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of other countries."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call on Thursday during which both leaders condemned Israel for its strikes on Iran and agreed de-escalation was needed,

China, which imposed a strict one-child policy on the majority of its citizens for 35 years to curb rampant population growth, is now witnessing the ill-effects of the policy as birth rates have declined at an alarming rate.