Xi: China willing to boost ties with Saudi Arabia

21 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday, AzerNEWS reports. Xi said that Beijing is willing to deepen "strategic mutual trust" and increase cooperation with the Middle Eastern state. The two leaders also discussed the war in Iran and the resulting energy crisis. Xi said that China supports an "immediate and comprehensive" ceasefire and insists on engaging in diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes. He added that a "normal" level of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained, following the Iranian regime's announcement that the strait has been closed once again. Tags: Middle East Saudi Arabia Xi Jinping Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you!