Xi Jinping told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open for normal passage—a statement confirmed by Chinese state media (Xinhua), SCMP, Guardian, and NBC. This matters because the strait is critical to global oil shipping; a closure would spike energy prices worldwide and Xi's call signals China wants economic disruption resolved. The post itself doesn't explain *why* Xi is pushing for this—the context of the U.S.-Iran conflict and ongoing blockade questions suggests China (a major oil importer) wants certainty on shipping routes, but the headline alone leaves readers unclear on the geopolitical stakes.