BEIJING, June 16 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday welcomed the first phase of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the U.S. and urged sustained efforts to advance talks and promote peace in the Middle East.

Wang made the remarks during a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart in which he also congratulated Pakistan on helping to facilitate the interim deal between Tehran and Washington, his ministry said.

"There must be no turning back, still less a return to the use of force," Wang told Ishaq ​Dar, noting that the second stage of negotiations would be more difficult.