Sri Lanka, March 31 -- China and Pakistan today called for an "immediate ceasefire" and peace talks to resolve the war in Iran following high-level bilateral talks between the two countries in Beijing.

They urged all parties to arrange for the safe passage of commercial and civilian ships through the Strait of Hormuz and "to protect the safety of vessels and crew" trapped in the waterway, which is one of the global economy's critical chokepoints.

"China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading," both countries' foreign ministries said, in a joint statement.

"Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should ...