00:00Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to normal transit,
00:06in a rare comment on the current standoff.
00:08In a call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman,
00:13Xi also urged an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire,
00:17calling for disputes to be resolved through political and diplomatic channels.
00:22Xi also told the Crown Prince that China supports countries in the Middle East
00:26in promoting long-term regional stability and peace.
00:30The call comes after Xi made the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in Beijing last week,
00:34where he also stressed the need to uphold international law.
00:38China is the largest buyer of Iranian crude and has a direct stake in the waterway.
00:44Prior to the conflict, nearly two-thirds of its energy imports passed through the strait.
00:49But that access is now under pressure amid the ongoing U.S. blockade.
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