Washington relies on Beijing's help in resolving the conflict with Iran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bassan asked the Chinese authorities to use contacts with Tehran to bring an end to the war. The initiative was supported by Donald Trump. As Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported, citing a US official, Beijing has already sent the equivalent signal to Iran.
According to the journalist, Trump discussed this issue with Xi Jinping during the September talks in Washington. The Chinese leader then agreed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. They plan to return to the issue at the November 18 APEC summit in Shenzhen.
Back in May, Trump said that Beijing is ready to facilitate a ceasefire and restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The US president hoped that China could use its position as the largest buyer of Iranian oil to influence Tehran.
In the spring, Xi Jinping also presented four proposals for solving the situation in the Middle East, including respecting the country's sovereignty, international law and supporting the development of the Gulf countries.
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