Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged a “diplomatic” solution to the Middle East crisis as he tells the King of Jordan that the sovereignty of countries in the region should be respected, AFP reports.

Xi has told Jordan’s King Abdullah II during talks in Beijing that China values Jordan’s “unique and important role in the region”.

“China has always advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire (and) resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means,” Xi says, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. “[China] believes the sovereignty and security of regional countries including Jordan should be respected.”

The Chinese president also urges a “comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue”, the foreign ministry statement says.

China supports “promoting the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks anchored on the correct direction of the ‘two-state solution’,” Xi said.

Both nations, in a joint statement, called for restoring normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to state broadcaster CCTV.