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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi shake hands in Beijing, China, as shown in this handout photo released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 6, 2026. — Reuters
- FM Wang states China will increase efforts to reduce Middle East tensions.
- Chinese Foreign Minister emphasizes that reignition of hostilities in the Middle East is “unacceptable.”
- Beijing is discreetly working to mediate and resolve the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Beijing: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China intends to play a more active role in ending conflicts in the Middle East during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday, just a week before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping.
China remains a significant buyer of Iranian oil, ignoring U.S. sanctions, and is directly impacted by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran borders.
In the background, China has been quietly investing diplomatic efforts to address the weeks-long crisis, with its initiatives contributing to the fragile ceasefire brokered between Washington and Tehran. Wang told Araqchi in Beijing that China “will work harder to ease tensions, support the resumption of peace negotiations, and assume a greater role in restoring stability and peace to the Middle East.”
He added, “China believes that a complete and immediate halt to fighting is essential, that restarting hostilities is even more unacceptable, and that ongoing negotiations remain crucial,” as per a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following their discussion.
While China has been relatively shielded from fuel shortages thanks to ample oil reserves and renewable energy sources, the prices of materials derived from oil, like plastics and textiles, have surged notably.
More than half of China’s crude oil imports by sea come from the Middle East, primarily passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. Analysts warn that the war’s effects on China could persist for months.
During the discussions, Wang expressed hope that “all parties involved will respond swiftly to the international community’s urgent call to restore regular and secure maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Upcoming U.S. President Trump’s Visit to China
The talks between Wang and Araqchi coincided with President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz — a move that was prompted by Iranian attacks — shortly after the practice began. Trump said this decision stems from a desire to pursue a peace agreement with Iran.
The U.S. continues to demand strict controls over Iran’s nuclear program, which Iran refuses to accept, leading to the collapse of negotiations. Wang stated, “Regarding the nuclear issue, China welcomes Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons but recognizes Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy.”
President Trump is projected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing during a visit scheduled for May 14-15, though Beijing has not officially confirmed these dates.
When asked about Trump’s visit during a regular news briefing, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson declined to provide specific details.
Trump’s visit would follow on the heels of recent high-profile meetings between Xi and leaders from the Gulf states, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with Xi positioning China as a stable partner amid the ongoing U.S.- and Israel-led conflicts.
This visit would also come more than a year after Trump’s sweeping tariffs disrupted global supply chains, causing chaos in China’s manufacturing sector.
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