Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in his meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing.
“Regarding the strait issue, the international community shares a common concern over restoring normal safe passage through the strait,” Beijing’s top diplomat said on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“China hopes that the parties concerned will respond promptly to the strong calls of the international community,” it added.
The talks – their first in person since the US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28 – took place about one week before US President Donald Trump’s long-awaited, delayed trip to Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.The war is widely expected to be high on the leaders’ agenda, as cabinet officials in Washington urge Beijing to step up pressure on Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Beijing has yet to confirm Trump’s trip.