VISITING Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Doha on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz should be kept open under all circumstances and Beijing opposes “any extreme acts” at the strategic passageway.

    “Any extreme acts across the Strait of Hormuz, under whatever circumstances they are taken, are against the common interests and aspiration of the people across the world,” Wen told a press conference during his official visit to Qatar.

    The Chinese premier said that cargo transportation through the strait should be protected because it concerns the interests of the whole humanity.

    China maintains that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful means, he said, adding that Beijing supports the political process between Iran and the Iran Six, a diplomatic group made up of the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.

    China firmly opposes Iran producing and possessing nuclear weapons and will work with concerned parties to establish a nuclear-free Middle East, Wen said, while stressing that China will not trade its principles for profits.

    However, just like many other countries, China has also kept “normal” and “justified” trade with Iran, which should be protected, Wen said, adding that should normal trade not be protected, the normal international order would be disturbed.

    “I am not worried about the normal trade between China and Iran at all,” Wen told reporters.

    (Xinhua)