China on Wednesday called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible,” as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the Iran war.
The meeting marked Araqchi’s first visit to China since the outbreak of the conflict and came as Beijing intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire and restoring maritime navigation through one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout carried by state media, Wang stressed that achieving a “comprehensive ceasefire” remained an “urgent priority,” warning that renewed hostilities would further destabilize the region.
“On the issue of the Strait, the international community shares a common concern over restoring normal and secure navigation through the Strait,” Wang said, adding that China hoped all parties would respond quickly to international calls for reopening the route.
The Strait of Hormuz has faced major disruptions since the conflict escalated, with both Iran and the United States imposing blockades that severely affected maritime traffic through the corridor, which handles a significant portion of global oil shipments.
Beijing has criticized the US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, describing it as “irresponsible and dangerous” and warning that it could undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement.
China has sought to position itself as a mediator in the crisis while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. Wang reiterated Beijing’s call for continued negotiations between United States and Iran, saying dialogue remained the only viable path toward de-escalation.
Chinese state media also reported that Wang expressed appreciation for Iran’s stated commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
For his part, Araqchi said cooperation between Tehran and Beijing would become “even stronger,” according to Iranian state media.
The diplomatic meeting comes one week before US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit likely to focus heavily on the Iran conflict and the future of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Both US and Iranian officials have previously credited China with helping secure acceptance of a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire agreement reached in April.
China remains one of Iran’s main energy partners despite US sanctions on Iranian oil exports. According to the Center on Global Energy Policy, China imported around 1.38 million barrels of Iranian crude oil per day in 2025, accounting for approximately 12% of its total crude imports.
Despite concerns over disruptions to Chinese energy supplies, Trump said this week that Beijing had been “very respectful” throughout the crisis and had not challenged the United States over developments in the Gulf region.
The planned Trump-Xi meeting, originally scheduled for March, had been postponed after the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran. If held next week, the trip would mark the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade.
