BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that Beijing would play a “greater role” in ending hostilities in the Middle East during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. The statement came a week before US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China, a major buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions, is also directly affected by any disruption or blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key shipping route. Beijing has been quietly involved in efforts to ease the ongoing crisis and is credited with contributing to a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
During the talks, Wang said 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 tranquility to the Middle East,” according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.
He stressed that a complete end to hostilities must happen without delay, warned that restarting fighting would be unacceptable, and said continued negotiations remain essential.
China’s manufacturing sector has remained relatively insulated from fuel shortages due to oil reserves and rising renewable energy use, but prices of oil-based products such as plastics and textiles have increased significantly.
According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, more than half of China’s seaborne crude oil imports come from the Middle East, much of it passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts warn that the broader economic impact of the conflict on China could continue for months.
Wang also said China hopes all parties will respond quickly to the international community’s call to restore safe and normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The talks took place as Trump said the United States would pause escorting commercial vessels through the strait after briefly beginning such operations, citing his aim to reach a peace deal with Iran following Iranian attacks in the area.
On the nuclear issue, Washington has demanded strict limits on Iran’s nuclear programme, but Tehran has rejected those conditions, causing negotiations to collapse.
Wang said China welcomes Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while also supporting Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Trump is expected to visit Beijing on May 14–15 to meet Xi Jinping, though China has not officially confirmed the dates. The Chinese foreign ministry declined to provide details when asked.
The visit would come amid renewed global diplomacy, with Xi recently hosting leaders from the Gulf, Europe, and Southeast Asia as China seeks to present itself as a stable partner amid ongoing US- and Israel-linked regional tensions.
Trump’s trip would also follow his earlier sweeping global tariffs, which disrupted supply chains and caused turmoil in China’s manufacturing sector.