BEIJING: China has sent an envoy to Saudi Arabia and Iran amid an escalating feud, the foreign ministry said today, calling on all sides to exercise restraint.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming was currently in Saudi Arabia and would travel on to Iran, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

"We hope the situation in the Middle East can move in the direction of amelioration," Hua told reporters.

"We hope that all parties can remain calm and exercise restraint and appropriately resolve relevant issues via dialogue and consultation," Hua added.