US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon” and stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for global energy flows, according to a statement issued by the The White House following bilateral talks in Beijing.
The White House said the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including trade, energy security and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, during what it described as a “good meeting” between Trump and Xi.
“The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” the White House said in a statement posted after the meeting.
According to the statement, Xi also voiced opposition to any attempt to militarise the strategic waterway or impose transit charges on global shipping.
“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 White House said.
The remarks come amid growing global concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply passes. Any disruption in the passage is closely watched by energy markets and major importers, including China.
The White House further said Xi expressed interest in increasing purchases of American crude oil as Beijing looks to diversify its energy supply routes and reduce reliance on Hormuz-linked shipments.
“He expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's dependence on the Strait in the future,” the statement added.
On Iran, Washington said both leaders shared a common position on Tehran's nuclear ambitions. “Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the White House said.
China's state-run news agency Xinhua News Agency, in its own readout of the Trump-Xi meeting, did not mention the remarks relating to Iran's nuclear programme or Xi's comments on the Strait of Hormuz.
Beyond the Middle East, the White House said the talks also focused on expanding market access for American companies in China, increasing Chinese investments in US industries and curbing the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States.
Leaders from several major American companies also attended part of the bilateral discussions, according to the White House statement.
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