A meeting between foreign ministers of China and Iran served for Beijing to reaffirm that it supports the “safeguard” of Iranian sovereignty and the “Iran’s legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy”.
But Chinese minister Wang Yi also made it clear to Iranian Abbas Araghchi that “the resumption of conflict is unacceptable” – according to the note about the meeting released by the Beijing Foreign Ministry.
The , this Wednesday (6), occurred a week before the scheduled trip of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to meet with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, also in Beijing.
The Iranian foreign minister said he discussed with China the end of financial sanctions against the country and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
China believes that a complete cessation of hostilities is imperative, that a resumption of conflict is unacceptable, and that persistence in negotiations is particularly important
Beijing seeks to shield the trade flow in the Persian Gulf from disputes over regional influence. Before the war, China was the .
Amid his agenda in Beijing, Araghchi also spoke by phone with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan; three weeks ago, .
“China argues that the Gulf and Middle East countries should have control of their own destinies and encourages dialogue between Iran and more Gulf countries to achieve friendly and good-neighborly relations,” the Chinese note also said.
Wang Yi also told Araghchi that China “is willing to consolidate and deepen political mutual trust with Iran, maintain and strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas, and continue to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership” between both countries.
Analysis: China does not take sides in Gulf chaos
Marcus VinÃcius de Freitas, professor at the University of Foreign Affairs in Beijing (China): There is an important commercial relationship with Iran, a major supplier of oil to China. But China is not completely dependent on Iran for oil acquisition and was able to acquire it from other sources throughout this entire process.
Lourival Sant’Anna, CNN International analyst: China has long wanted to project itself as a reliable partner and a responsible country. And Donald Trump’s United States has become the country of tariffs, war, instability, rule-breaking and the threat of annexation of Greenland and Canada.
