Beijing, China. President Donald Trump entered final talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, promoting economic gains while Beijing warned Washington about mishandling Taiwan and said the war with Iran should never have started.
Trade focus in Zhongnanhai meeting
Trump is making the first visit by a U.S. president to China since his last trip in 2017 and has been seeking tangible results ahead of crucial midterm elections.
“We’ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,” Trump said while seated beside Xi at the Zhongnanhai complex.
Symbolic gestures and working lunch
Earlier, the two leaders chatted and strolled outside, with Trump commenting on roses and Xi promising to send him seeds.
They later had a lunch that included lobster balls, Kung Pao scallops and shrimp dumplings.
China calls for end to Iran conflict
Before the final meeting, China’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing frustration with the Iran war.
“This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” the ministry said, adding that China supported efforts to reach a peace deal in a war that has severely affected energy supplies and the global economy.
At Zhongnanhai, Trump said the leaders had discussed Iran and felt “very similar,” though Xi did not comment.
Expectations for China’s role and Strait of Hormuz
Trump had been expected to urge China to convince Iran to make a deal with Washington to end the war, which has pushed up prices and made him politically vulnerable at home.
Analysts doubt Xi will be willing to push Tehran hard or end support for its military, given Iran’s value to Beijing as a strategic counterweight to the US.
A brief U.S. summary of Thursday’s talks highlighted what the White House called the leaders’ shared desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Xi’s apparent interest in American oil purchases to reduce China’s dependence on Middle East supply.
What do you think the talks could mean for efforts to end the Iran war?
