China's foreign minister calls for dialogue on Strait of Hormuz dispute
The comments come as Xi Jinping arrives in the US ahead of talks with Trump built around trade and cooperation
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Map: The Gulf and Hormuz, marking Strait of Hormuz
China's foreign minister said all parties should pursue peaceful options and settle the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz through dialogue, responding to remarks from Iran's president on the waterway.
The United States has already rejected a proposal from Iran to reopen the strait. Treasury Secretary Bessent has said 80 to 90% of external flights from Iran are grounded.
The statement comes as Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with Trump, which he has framed around cooperation as the mainstay, with competition kept moderate and differences kept manageable.
Beijing's call for dialogue on Hormuz sits awkwardly next to that positioning as a partner to Washington on trade and technology. It adds diplomatic noise without changing the underlying picture: Iran's blockade threats are unresolved, the US has turned down Tehran's proposal, and China's leverage over Iran looks limited. For now, markets have reason to treat the statement as posturing rather than a step toward de-escalation.