On April 20, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun presided over a regular press briefing.

A Reuters reporter asked that the United States had seized an Iranian cargo ship arriving from China, and Iran had vowed to retaliate against this action. Additionally, the US-Iran ceasefire is set to expire tomorrow, and Iran has stated it will not participate in a second round of negotiations. The reporter then asked for the spokesperson's response regarding the seized vessel, what cargo was on board, and China's view on the impending expiration of the ceasefire agreement.

Guo Jiakun, Image source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

Guo Jiakun responded that regarding the first question, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is sensitive and complex. China is concerned about the US's forced interception of the vessel and hopes that relevant parties will responsibly adhere to the ceasefire agreement, avoid escalating tensions, and provide the necessary conditions for the normalization of navigation through the strait.

Regarding the second question, the current regional situation is at a critical juncture between war and peace. Now that the window for peace has opened, favorable conditions should be created to end the conflict as soon as possible. China supports the relevant parties in maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations. Guided by the spirit of President Xi Jinping's four-point proposal, China will continue to promote de-escalation and play a constructive role in ultimately achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.