Trump and Xi agree: Strait of Hormuz must remain open

The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure the free transport of oil and natural gas, US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed at their summit in Beijing, according to the White House. The White House described the meeting as good in a post on social media platform X. In a speech at the state dinner, Trump invited Xi to visit the White House on September 24. Both Trump and Xi believe that relations between Beijing and Washington are the most important bilateral relationship in the world, the Chinese president said, according to CNN.

"We must ensure that it works and never derail it," Xi said at the start of the state dinner, speaking about relations between the great powers.

"China and the United States can benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our countries should be partners rather than rivals," he added.

In his own speech, Trump described ties between the countries as one of the most important relationships in human history. "Just as many Chinese today love basketball and jeans, the number of Chinese restaurants in America today is more than five times the number of the largest fast-food chains" in the country, Trump said. He officially invited Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to visit the White House in September.

"President Xi made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any attempt to charge tolls for its use," the White House said in a post about the leaders' meeting.

The Chinese president expressed interest in buying larger quantities of US oil to reduce Beijing's dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the White House. The two countries also agreed that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, the White House said.

The leaders also discussed deepening economic cooperation, including expanding US companies' access to the Chinese market and Chinese investment in US industrial sectors, the statement said. Trump also spoke about the need to stop shipments to the United States of so-called precursor chemicals, which are used to produce the opioid fentanyl.

"The heads of state exchanged views on major international and regional issues, particularly the situation in the Middle East, the crisis in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula," China's foreign ministry said, according to AFP, without providing further details.

Trump and Xi are now concluding the day with the state dinner, alongside their delegations. The tables are decorated with elaborate floral arrangements, with one featuring an intricate model complete with ponds, temples and swans, CNN reported. The waitresses are wearing traditional Chinese dresses.

Trump arrived in Beijing as his popularity in the United States is falling because of the US-Israeli war with Iran and rising prices driven by the resulting blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is part of Trump's delegation, said before the talks that China should put pressure on its ally Iran and help resolve the crisis surrounding the conflict.

Beijing has repeatedly criticized the United States for starting the war with Iran, a close trading partner of China, and US intelligence agencies say China is preparing to provide Tehran with air defense systems.