Trump Says Xi Jinping Offered Help on Iran as Leaders Discuss Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump concluded a three-day visit to Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying they feel "very similar" on Iran and that "We want the straits open," as the leaders discussed the US-Israeli war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

“The second round of talks on Friday followed a state banquet the day before”

ABC7 San Francisco

Trump said he and Xi discussed Taiwan, with Xi warning that if the issue is mishandled the two nations could "come into conflict," while Trump told reporters he had not made a decision on US arms sales to Taiwan.

ABC7 San Francisco

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, "There is no need to continue this war that should not have happened," and called for ceasefire and negotiations to continue.

On Iran, Trump said Xi effectively assured him China was not preparing to militarily aid Tehran, and Trump added, "He said he’s not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly."

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he and Xi made "fantastic trade deals," while Al Jazeera said the visit suggested little progress on key issues related to Taiwan or the US-Israeli war in Iran.

On Friday, Trump said Xi agreed to purchase "200 big" Boeing jets, and Al Jazeera reported that no new agreements were mentioned in China’s official statement recapping the visit.

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China’s foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters that "China encourages the US and Iran to continue resolving their differences" through negotiations and advocated the swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the basis of maintaining a ceasefire.

Al Jazeera also reported that Trump said he was not "asking for any favours" on Iran, while Xi’s remarks to Trump on Taiwan were described as the most "important issue in China-US relations."

Chinese foreign ministry spokespersons said there was "no point in continuing" the US/Israeli war on Iran, and urged that the door to dialogue "should not be shut again" as they called for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

TRT World reported that Xi and Trump agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues amid the Iran war, with China describing an "in-depth exchange of views" and "new common understandings."

Trump said Xi told him Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran, and Trump added, "He said, 'If I can be of any help at all, I would like to help,'" as the leaders discussed reopening shipping lanes.

The same TRT World report said China stressed reopening shipping lanes "as soon as possible" to keep global supply chains stable and unimpeded, while also linking de-escalation to dialogue on the Iranian nuclear issue and other concerns.