China has intensified its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, seeking to encourage dialogue between the United States and Iran amid continuing regional tensions and disruptions to international energy supplies.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in Beijing on Monday. During the meeting, Wang stressed that dialogue and negotiations remained the only viable way to resolve the conflict and prevent further escalation. He also reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and security.
The diplomatic engagement comes after several weeks of limited Chinese involvement in efforts to end the conflict. Beijing appears increasingly concerned about the lack of progress and the wider consequences of prolonged instability in the region.
China’s Foreign Ministry also announced that its special envoy for Middle East affairs, Zhai Jun, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia during November as part of Beijing’s broader diplomatic initiative.
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Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing. The visit marked the first time an Omani head of state had travelled to China since diplomatic relations were established in 1978.
During the meeting, Xi emphasised that the Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for major-power rivalry. Both countries signed 14 cooperation agreements covering artificial intelligence, renewable energy, supply chains and financial cooperation.
In a joint statement, China and Oman called for the restoration of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and urged Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations.
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The waterway is strategically important, as approximately one-fifth of global energy exports passed through it before the conflict disrupted shipping.
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As one of the world's largest energy importers, China has significant economic interests in regional stability. Its renewed diplomatic efforts underline Beijing's growing desire to protect energy security and strengthen its influence across the Middle East.