US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that "the Strait of Hormuz must remain open," the White House has said following the US-China summit in Beijing.
“President Trump had a good meeting with President Xi of China,” the White House said in a statement on X.
The statement shared by the White House on Thursday did not mention Taiwan, but mostly focused on the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.
“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 militarisation of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait in the future.”
“Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the statement added.
In addition, the White House said the two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation,“including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment into our industries. Leaders from many of the United States’ largest companies joined a portion of the meeting.”
Trump “also highlighted the need to build on progress in ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States, as well as increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products,” the statement added.
Trump, Xi on the meeting
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that he and his Chinese counterpart Xi “had extremely positive and productive conversations and meetings,” adding that things discussed were “all good” for both countries.
He also extended an invitation to Xi and the Chinese first lady for a US visit on September 24, calling the ties a “very special relationship”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the other hand, said that China-US ties are world’s “most important,” adding they have remained “stable” and “we must make it work and never mess it up”.
‘Most important issue’
Regional tensions have remained high since US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Oman, Iran and the UAE connecting the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Amid a fragile ceasefire, the US has also enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz since April 13.
According to an official Chinese statement, Xi told Trump that the “two countries will have clashes and even conflicts,” if the Taiwan issue is not handled "properly."
"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability," said Xi.
"Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy," the Chinese president warned his US counterpart.
The bilateral economic ties, worth $414 billion last year, were "mutually beneficial and win-win in nature," Xi said, adding he "agreed" with Trump on a "new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability."
