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A top Chinese official has called for a lasting ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict during a high-profile meeting with Iran’s foreign minister in Beijing.

Getting into it: The call was made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Beijing Wednesday morning for talks marking his first in-person visit to China since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began Feb 28. Wang opened the meeting by calling for a complete ceasefire and saying China was “deeply distressed” by the conflict. “We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations.” Wang also called on Iran and the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

Wang noted the war “has already lasted for more than two months” and “has not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace.”

Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s diplomatic alignment with Beijing during the meeting and said cooperation between the two countries would only deepen. He added, “We will do our best to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations… We only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement.”

The meeting came against the backdrop of escalating US pressure on China to push Iran to make a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a White House briefing Tuesday that he hoped Chinese officials would tell Araghchi that Iran needs to get its shit together and make a deal. He said, “I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told. And that is that what you are doing in the strait is causing you to be globally isolated. You’re the bad guy in this.”

This all comes as President Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14.