China hopes Middle East conflict will not flare up again so trade can recover

Moscow (ANTARA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that he views the immediate end to the Middle East conflict as capable of easing barriers to energy supplies and international trade. ‘The ending of hostilities promptly will help reduce obstacles in realising stable energy supplies, uninterrupted production activities and supply chains, and international trade,’ Xi said in a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, broadcast by CCTV. Therefore, hostilities in the Middle East must be ended promptly and a recurrence of war cannot be allowed in any way, he said. ‘A complete cessation of hostilities is increasingly urgent, and the resumption of conflict is even more unacceptable,’ Xi said when outlining China’s stance on the Middle East conflict. He also said that ‘commitment to negotiations is particularly crucial.’ Russian President Vladimir Putin is on an official visit to China on 19-20 May 2026 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Source: Sputnik