China says 'no point' in continuing Iran war as Xi hosts Trump
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday there is "no point in continuing" the Iran war as President Xi Jinping hosted his US counterpart Donald Trump in Beijing, urging both sides to pursue a political settlement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to stabilize global supply chains.
China's Foreign Ministry stated Friday that the ongoing war between the United States and Iran "should not have happened in the first place" and called for immediate efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire. Speaking on the final day of the Beijing summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, a ministry spokesperson said the door to dialogue "should not be shut again" now that diplomatic channels have opened.
The spokesperson emphasized the urgency of reopening shipping lanes "as soon as possible" to stabilize global supply chains and respond to international demands. "It is important to enable peace and stability to return to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date, and lay the foundation for building a sustainable security architecture for the region," the spokesperson added.
Trump-Xi summit
US President Donald Trump told FOX News on Thursday that Xi Jinping expressed willingness to help broker a deal between Washington and Tehran. "He said, 'If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,'" Trump stated, adding that the Chinese leader wants to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened. Trump noted that Beijing's substantial oil purchases from Tehran give China "some kind of relationship" that could prove useful in negotiations.
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The conflict began on February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks against Israel and American allies in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. An indefinite ceasefire is currently in effect as diplomats seek a permanent settlement to the crisis, which has disrupted maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
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