Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has discussed the Middle East situation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call, a day after hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing.
The call on Thursday came ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington next week.
Beijing and Washington "should prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges in the spirit of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit," Wang told Rubio, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
He added that bilateral ties "generally move forward along the track of constructive strategic stability for some time."
During talks with Araghchi, Wang said China "encourages Iran and the United States to stay rational and exercise restraint" and urged them to return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding at an early date.
He also urged all parties to "take effective measures to open the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible."
The memorandum was signed in June after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar.
The US and Israel launched large-scale attacks against Iran on February 28, targeting government buildings, military sites, missile infrastructure and air defences.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases across the region.
The conflict has since spread across the region, as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the hostilities.
