China calls for complete and immediate end to fighting

With tensions still simmering in the Middle East, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged an immediate halt to the fighting on Tuesday and pressed the United States and Iran to restore access through the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible” during talks in Beijing with his Iranian counterpart.

“China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remains essential,” he said, according to a statement from his ministry after the talks with Abbas Araghchi in Beijing.

“China hopes that the parties concerned will respond as quickly as possible to the urgent call of the international community” for a normal and safe resumption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Mr Wang said.

“On the nuclear issue, China welcomes Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while considering that Iran has the legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he added.

According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, more than half of the crude China imports by sea originates in the Middle East and moves largely through the strategic waterway.

Beijing has worked largely behind the scenes to help defuse the crisis, and Chinese diplomacy is seen as having played an important part in the fragile ceasefire reached by Washington and Tehran.

China “will work harder to ease tensions and end the fighting, continue to support the launch of peace talks, and play a greater role in restoring peace and tranquillity to the Middle East,” Mr Wang said.