UN Welcomes Dialogue Between US and China

New York (ANTARA) - The United Nations (UN) appreciates the dialogue between the US and China, and hopes that Washington and Beijing will use the opportunity to resolve their differences through negotiation, said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq on Wednesday (13/5).

Earlier on Wednesday (13/5), US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a three-day state visit, the first visit by a US leader to China in nine years.

“Clearly, we appreciate all dialogue between two important countries like the United States and China, and we want them to use moments like this so that they can resolve their differences through dialogue,” said Haq.

He conveyed this to journalists when asked if the UN had any expectations for the meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, particularly regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The UN does not expect the issue of the strait to be resolved by China and the US alone, added the deputy spokesperson.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties.

On 7 April, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire.

Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended without results, and Trump extended the ceasefire to give Iran time to submit an “integrated proposal.”

That escalation nearly halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets, thereby increasing fuel prices.