China calls for promoting Middle East ceasefire in talks with EU, Germany

BEIJING, April 2 (Reuters) - China on Thursday repeated calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in conversations with Western counterparts, widening its diplomatic effort to end the war that has disrupted the global energy market.China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the Middle East situation in separate phone calls with the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, appealing for joint efforts to push for a prompt end to the war.