CHINA and Pakistan on Tuesday put forward a fivepoint peace proposal to end the West Asia war, including a call for safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The peace proposal was put forward after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on the Iran situation with visiting Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Dar arrived here to briefWang about his recent talks with the Foreign Ministers of Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to promote talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict. After Dar-Wang talks, the two countries put forward five proposals on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region and West Asia, as well as safe passage through the Strait. The proposals included the immediate cessation of hostilities, initiation of peace talks as soon as possible, ensuring the safety of non-military targets and safety of navigation, and safeguarding the primacy of the UN Charter. TheStraitofHormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy, a joint statement issued after their talks said. “China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the securityofships andcrewmembers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible,” Pakistanimediareported,quoting the joint statement. Earlier, China said three of its ships carrying oil supplies had passed through the Strait of Hormuz and thanked relevantparties for facilitation and coordination

 

. After coordinationwithrelevantparties, three Chinese ships recently transited the Strait of Hormuz. We express appreciation for the assistance of relevant parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here, without namingIran,whichiscurrently controlling themovementofoil shipments from theGulfcrossing the Strait. Iran is demanding international recognition ofits sovereigntyover theStrait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz and watersnearbyareanimportant route for international goods and energy trade. China calls for an immediate end to hostilities torestorepeace and stability in the Gulf, Mao said. This is the first time China, a large importer of Iranian oil for years despite US sanctions, spoke of its ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid reports thatIranis permittingChinese ships to cross the Strait given the close strategic ties. Ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran, China has been calling on all countries to immediately stop military operations. Beijing has also been calling for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, as its closure resultedinwidespread disruption of fuel supplies. Whilecondemning the attacks on Iran, China is also preparing for US President Donald Trump’svisitscheduled forMay 14-15, during which expectations arehigh to finalisea trade deal between the two countries.