China on Friday called for a full ceasefire in the Middle East and urged the immediate reopening of the Hormuz Strait during the ongoing summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The Hormuz Strait has effectively remained closed since the outbreak of war following the US and Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February. In peacetime, the strategic waterway handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
China demands shipping routes reopen
The United States has also imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports despite a fragile ceasefire that has been in effect since 8 April.
“Maritime routes must reopen as soon as possible, as requested by the international community, and a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire must be implemented immediately,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement released on Friday.
The ministry added that “this war, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue.”
Trump and Xi discuss Iran
Trump and Xi discussed developments in the Middle East during their first meeting on Thursday, according to reports from the summit.
The Chinese foreign ministry statement came in response to a media question on whether Iran had been specifically discussed during the talks.
Trump later told a US television network that Xi had pledged Beijing would not send military equipment to Iran and was prepared to help reopen the Hormuz Strait.
Iran announced on Thursday, during the summit, that its forces had allowed several Chinese ships to pass through the strategic passage.
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