China says there is urgent need to maintain Iran war ceasefire
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China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong rejected allegations from some US officials about military cooperation between China and Iran as "false".
PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING – China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong said on May 1 it was an urgent necessity to maintain the Iran war ceasefire and that he was sure the Strait of Hormuz issue would be high on the agenda if it is still closed when US President Donald Trump visits China in May.
Mr Fu told reporters at the UN that the strait needed to be reopened as quickly as possible. He said China was very concerned about remarks it had recently heard about the ceasefire being temporary and the need to initiate another round of attacks.
“Iran needs to lift its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, and the US needs to lift its naval blockade,” he added.
“The most urgent issue is to keep the ceasefire. And the ceasefire needs to last, and there has to be a good-faith negotiation between the two sides,” he said. “The international community should be mobilised and raise our voices against the resumption of fighting.”
Asked about Mr Trump’s visit to China scheduled for May, he said: “I’m sure if Hormuz is still closed by the time President Trump goes to China, this issue will be high on the agenda of the bilateral talks.”
Mr Fu also rejected allegations from some US officials about military cooperation between China and Iran, saying they are “false”.
He was giving a briefing at the start of the month-long Chinese presidency of the UN Security Council and said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair a session of the council on May 26.
The US State Department did not respond immediately when asked if there were plans for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet Mr Wang during his visit to the US. REUTERS
