Washington DC/Beijing, May 14: US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday in what was described as a “good meeting,” with both leaders agreeing that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy.

According to a White House statement, the bilateral discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation, including expanding market access for American businesses in China and encouraging greater Chinese investment in US industries. Several leaders from major US companies attended part of the meeting.

The statement highlighted additional areas of collaboration, including efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States and boost Chinese purchases of American agricultural products. President Xi also expressed interest in purchasing more US oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Both leaders reiterated that Iran should never possess a nuclear weapon.

Xi, speaking at the Great Hall of the People, noted the global transformation “not seen in a century” and emphasized the need for steady, sustainable development of China-US relations. He described the economic and trade ties between the two nations as mutually beneficial and stressed that disagreements should be resolved through equal-footed consultations.

The Chinese side called for expanded cooperation in areas such as health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and law enforcement. Xi also underscored that the Taiwan issue remains the most critical point in China-US relations, warning that mishandling it could destabilize the entire bilateral relationship.

The two presidents also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to support each other in hosting a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and G20 Summit this year. (Agency Input)