Trump and Xi have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open (Img: Internet)
Beijing: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held crucial talks in Beijing on Thursday, focusing on global energy security, trade cooperation, Taiwan and the ongoing tensions involving Iran.
The summit marked the first direct engagement between the two leaders since the Iran conflict escalated earlier this year, triggering concerns over global oil supply chains and rising geopolitical uncertainty.
The two leaders reportedly agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure uninterrupted global energy movement and maritime trade. The narrow waterway remains one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, carrying nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and natural gas supplies.
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Following the meeting, the White House stated that both countries agreed Iran should never acquire nuclear weapons. The statement also underlined the importance of maintaining free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising instability in the region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s opposition to any militarisation of the Strait and warned against attempts to impose tolls or restrictions on international shipping through the route. Reports also indicated that China expressed interest in increasing imports of American oil to reduce dependence on Hormuz-linked supply routes over time.
The Iran issue and maritime security have emerged as central concerns for both Washington and Beijing because of their impact on global trade and energy prices.
The summit also focused heavily on economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. According to the White House, both sides discussed improving market access for American companies in China and expanding Chinese investments in US industries.
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Senior executives from several major American companies attended part of the discussions. The two sides also reviewed efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States and discussed increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products.
During the talks, Xi Jinping described Taiwan as the “most sensitive” issue in China-US relations. Chinese state media reported that Xi warned mishandling the Taiwan issue could seriously damage bilateral ties and potentially trigger conflict.
China continues to view Taiwan as part of its territory, while the United States maintains unofficial ties with Taipei and continues arms sales to the island despite recognising Beijing diplomatically.
