Jordan and China called for a negotiated end to the US-Iran war that addresses the “root causes” of the conflict after King Abdullah met President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.
After the leaders discussed Middle East affairs, a joint statement said “normal navigation” should be restored to the Strait of Hormuz and called for a “comprehensive solution” to replace the flimsy US-Iran ceasefire.
They also accused Israel of initiating a “dangerous escalation” in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as episodes of settler violence pile up. Mr Xi said the Palestinian issue “is the core of the Middle East issue”.
King Abdullah met Mr Xi on the final day of a week-long visit to China, seeking economic opportunities for Jordan in industries such as farming, medicine and engineering. Several agreements were signed in what King Abdullah said was a sign of “shared determination to continue building on their strong ties”.
The two heads of state discussed Gaza, the West Bank and Iran. “The ceasefire between the US and Iran should be maintained, and a comprehensive solution capable of eliminating the root causes of tensions should be reached through dialogue and negotiation,” their joint statement said.
It said Jordan and China expressed “deep concern at Israel’s dangerous escalation of the situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including the increasing frequency of settler violence, land confiscation, and the construction and expansion of settlements”.
China is one of several countries to have positioned itself as a potential peacemaker in the Iran conflict. In March, China and Pakistan put forward a five-point proposal that called for safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz and an end to attacks on power plants.
A new US sanctions announcement for Iran on Monday could increase pressure on China, which reported $9.96 billion in trade with the Iranians last year. The true figure may be significantly higher due to unreported Iranian crude oil exports.
China is also the buyer of a fifth of Jordan's imports, the biggest share of any country. The costs of those imports have increased sharply as a result of disruption to shipping between the Middle East and Asia.
