Safeguarding security in the Strait of Hormuz is a shared responsibility of the international community, as disruptions risk destabilizing global trade and energy flow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Mao made the remarks amid questions over recent navigation disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint where instability threatens to reverberate across global energy supplies and trade.
"The Strait of Hormuz and its nearby waters are vital channels for international goods and energy trade. Safeguarding the security and stability of this region is in the common interest of the international community. We urge all parties to immediately halt military actions to avoid further escalation of the tensions and to prevent the instability from causing greater impact on the global economy," said Mao.
Following the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran that began on Saturday, global attention has turned to the Strait of Hormuz, particularly after Iran warned it could disrupt transit through this vital waterway in retaliation, sending shockwaves through international markets.
Nestled between the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the strait serves as the only sea passage from the Gulf to the open ocean, cementing its status as one of the world's most strategically vital chokepoints.
China calls for secure Strait of Hormuz for global goods, energy trade
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.
The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.
Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.
Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.
A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.
Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting
