Qatar and China discussed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East on Tuesday, including the need to ensure safe and free passage through the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, according to a statement from Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met China's Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss a deepening of ties and cooperation.
"The meeting also dealt with the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to reduce escalation and enhance security and stability in the (Middle East) region, underscoring the necessity of ensuring the security and freedom of international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.
During the meeting, Al-Thani reaffirmed that Qatar fully supports diplomatic efforts to ensure freedom of maritime navigation and sustainable peace in the region, the statement said.
"We discussed strengthening bilateral relations to serve our mutual interests, reviewed regional and international developments, & looked forward to working together for international peace & security," Al-Thani said in a separate social media post.
A spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the country is collaborating with partners in the region and elsewhere, including China, to restart peace negotiations between the US and Iran, multiple media outlets reported.
The resumption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for Qatar and others in the region, Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ibrahim Al Hashami reportedly said during a briefing.
Elsewhere, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said that the two countries are calling for a compromise to help implement the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, Al Jazeera reported.
Before the start of the Iran war, the Hormuz Strait accounted for almost 20% of global oil and gas flows.