China, Pakistan issue joint call for peace, reopening Hormuz

Foster Wong, Bloomberg News on Mar 31, 2026

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China and Pakistan issued a joint call Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran war and for the safeguarding of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely closed, hobbling global energy supplies.

The appeals were part of a five-point joint proposal to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East, following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Beijing, according to a statement from China’s government. The two countries called for the protection of vessels and crews in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of normal navigation as soon as possible.

China and Pakistan said dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable paths to resolving the conflict, stressing respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of countries in the region, including Iran and Gulf states. They backed the launch of peace talks, and said parties should refrain from the use or threat of force.

The statement also called for the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure — including energy facilities, power systems, desalination plants and nuclear installations — in line with international humanitarian law. Both sides emphasized the importance of the United Nations and multilateral cooperation in advancing a lasting peace framework.

Pakistan and China have urged talks between Iran and the United States to work toward ending a war that has disrupted global markets and sent oil prices surging. Pakistan has emerged as a key player in seeking to broker peace, leveraging ties with both U.S. President Donald Trump and longstanding bonds with its neighbor Iran.

The conflict, now in its second month, has injected uncertainty into the growth outlook for China, which relied on exports for a third of its economic expansion last year. An official survey of manufacturers released Tuesday showed a huge run-up in input costs, putting pressure on the profit margins for factories.

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(With assistance from Lucille Liu.)