Beijing: The United States and China reached a critical agreement on Thursday, affirming that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and that the strategic Strait of Hormuz must remain open. This consensus was announced by a White House official following a pivotal summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the high-level meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders engaged in discussions on several significant issues, including trade, the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, and the sensitive Taiwan matter, which China regards as part of its territory.
The talks were held against the backdrop of stalled peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at concluding their prolonged conflict and ensuring safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for oil and other commodities.
"The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. President Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use," the official stated, describing the Trump-Xi meeting as "good."
The official also conveyed that Xi expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to lessen China's reliance on the strait in the future. Both countries concurred that Iran should be prevented from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
Discussions on the Middle East conflict emerged as Trump seeks to withdraw from the war and restore navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, especially with the U.S. midterm elections on the horizon.
China has expressed concerns about the conflict, as disruptions in the strait could threaten its energy supplies. Although China has been diversifying its energy sources and maintaining substantial oil reserves, the conflict poses long-term economic risks for the world's second-largest economy.
The leaders also explored ways to bolster economic cooperation, including increasing market access for American businesses in China and boosting Chinese investments in U.S. industries, although specifics were not provided by the official.
Additionally, the summit addressed the need to curb the influx of fentanyl precursors into the U.S. and increase China's purchase of American agricultural goods, the official noted.
During the summit, both Trump and Xi expressed their intent to manage bilateral relations stably, with Xi emphasizing Beijing's unwavering stance on Taiwan.
In his opening remarks, Trump stated, "It's an honor to be with you. It's an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before."
Trump highlighted his longstanding "fantastic" relationship with Xi, acknowledging their ability to resolve difficulties swiftly. Xi reciprocated by emphasizing the mutual benefits of a stable Sino-U.S. relationship.
Xi remarked, "China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," and advocated for a partnership approach rather than rivalry, urging both nations to help each other succeed.
A ceremonial welcome preceded their meeting, featuring national anthems, an honor guard inspection, and greetings from children waving flowers and flags. Following talks, the leaders visited the Temple of Heaven and were slated for a state banquet.
Accompanying Trump was a delegation of prominent U.S. business figures, including Elon Musk of SpaceX and Tesla, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, and Tim Cook of Apple, underscoring the economic focus of the visit. The summit marks the start of a series of potential bilateral discussions between Trump and Xi scheduled later this year.