China urges ‘comprehensive’ ceasefire, normal passage via Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for a “comprehensive” ceasefire and the normal passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Iran conflict, Anadolu reports.

Xi made the remarks during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He said that the normal passage through the strait “serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community,” according to the state-run news agency Xinhua.

Beijing supports regional countries in building a common home marked by “good neighborliness, development, security and cooperation, mastering their own future and destiny, and promoting long-term peace and stability in the region,” Xi added.

The Chinese president also said Beijing advocates an “immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, supports all efforts conducive to restoring peace, and remains committed to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.”

Xi expressed China’s willingness to “deepen strategic mutual trust” with Saudi Arabia and strengthen practical cooperation.

READ: China’s Xi assured Trump of no weapons support to Iran: White House

This is the first call by the Chinese president with a Middle Eastern leader since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28.

Trump on Sunday announced that US representatives will fly to Islamabad for talks with the Iranians.

Tehran is yet to officially announce its decision, but has demanded the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports.

Pakistan hosted the highest-level engagement between the US and Iran on April 11-12, the first since 1979 when they broke diplomatic ties, but the talks remained inconclusive. The negotiations, dubbed Islamabad talks, were held after Pakistan mediated between the two parties since the war began on Feb. 28 and secured a two-week ceasefire that became effective on April 8.

Earlier, Pakistani sources said Iranians are expected to reach Islamabad on Tuesday.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran “does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums in pursuing its national interests.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, however, called for the use of “every rational and diplomatic path” to ease tensions, saying that war is no one’s interest.

READ: UAE discusses US financial backstop as Iran war threatens deeper economic crisis