President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their summit in Beijing on Friday, with both leaders agreeing on the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for global trade. The two-day meeting, marked by pageantry and substantive talks, also yielded trade deals and a shared commitment to strategic stability.
Key Agreements on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Speaking to reporters after a working tea at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, Trump said, "We feel very similar about how we want it to end. We don't want them to have a nuclear weapon." He added that both sides want the straits open, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed amid the ongoing conflict. Trump noted that China has offered to help open the waterway, a crucial chokepoint for a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Chinese Foreign Ministry officials later confirmed that the two presidents had an in-depth exchange on major global issues, reaching a series of new common understandings. They agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability to guide bilateral relations for the next three years and beyond.
The US president also revealed that Xi had assured him China is not preparing to militarily aid Tehran. "President Xi said China is not going to give military equipment to Iran," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. China currently purchases 90% of Iranian oil and maintains a strategic partnership with Tehran, including close military ties. Xi's assurance is significant given the ongoing US-led military campaign against Iran.
Trade Deals and Economic Cooperation
Trump described the trade negotiations as "fantastic" and said "a lot of good" has come out of the visit. While specific dollar figures were not disclosed, the US leader said deals were reached in sectors including agriculture, aviation, and artificial intelligence. He also mentioned that Xi liked the idea of buying more US oil, which would reduce China's dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting was aimed at maintaining a fragile trade truce struck in October, when Trump suspended triple-digit tariffs on Chinese goods and Xi backed away from choking global supplies of vital rare earths. Xi told Trump on Thursday that negotiations on trade issues had reached "balanced and positive outcomes," without elaborating.
Regional Stability and Taiwan
Beyond Iran and trade, the two leaders discussed contentious issues such as Taiwan. Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could send relations spiraling. Trump, in turn, reiterated the US commitment to the One-China policy but also stressed the need for a peaceful resolution. The summit aimed to keep relations on an even keel despite deep differences on Taiwan and other geopolitical flashpoints.
Trump's Comments on Iran: "Deal or Annihilation"
In an interview with Fox News aired on Thursday evening, Trump said Iran is "finished" and must either negotiate a deal or face destruction. "Deal or annihilation for Iran," he stated, emphasizing that the US cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Trump also said he would not be much more patient, urging Tehran to reach a deal with Washington.
Trump defended the US objective of recovering highly enriched uranium from bombed nuclear sites, though he acknowledged it was "more for public relations than anything else" because the US maintains round-the-clock surveillance with nine cameras on the sites. "We know exactly what's happening. Nobody's even gotten close to it," he said.
He also mentioned that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed him that the US could decisively neutralize Kharg Island in Iran in just "four or five minutes." Kharg Island is Iran's main oil export terminal.
China's Role: Calls for Ceasefire
China called for a comprehensive, lasting ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict as soon as possible, according to Reuters. Chinese officials stressed the need for diplomacy and urged all parties to exercise restraint. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, called for countries to unite against American bullying, arguing that such practices must be consigned to the "dustbin of history."
Obama Defends 2015 Nuclear Deal
In a separate development, former US President Barack Obama defended the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran in an interview with CBS, arguing it curbed Tehran's nuclear program without triggering a wider regional conflict. "We pulled it off without firing a missile," Obama said. "We got 97 percent of their enriched uranium out. There's no dispute that it worked. And we didn't have to kill a whole bunch of people or shut down the Strait of Hormuz." His comments come as the current administration launched a military campaign against Iran, which began in late February.
Israel-Lebanon Peace Talks
On a related note, Israel and Lebanon concluded the third round of peace talks on Thursday, with negotiations lasting over eight hours at the US State Department. A State Department official termed the talks "productive and positive." The delegations are scheduled to meet again on Friday. The talks are mediated by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's adviser Michael Needham, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa.
PM Modi's Five-Nation Tour
Amid the geopolitical upheaval, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a six-day tour of the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. The visit, from May 15 to 20, aims to enhance bilateral ties and focus on safeguarding energy flows, mitigating trade disruptions from the West Asia crisis, and enhancing cooperation in critical technologies.
Modi's first destination was the UAE, where he held wide-ranging talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, focusing on advancing the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership and exchanging views on the West Asia conflict. Energy security and cooperation were expected to be a key focus area, given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
From the UAE, Modi will travel to Europe, where he will engage with leaders in the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) called the visit significant for India's economic and strategic engagement with Europe and the Gulf region, noting that it would create new opportunities for Indian exporters across sectors such as engineering, clean energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, logistics, and digital trade.
Trump-Xi Summit: Behind the Scenes
The summit included a walk through Zhongnanhai, the walled leadership compound next to Beijing's Forbidden City, where Xi pointed out ancient trees and Chinese roses. "These are the most beautiful roses anyone has ever seen," Trump said. Xi offered to send seeds for the flowers to the US president. The setting, which has hosted only a handful of US leaders since Richard Nixon's visit in 1972, represented a gesture of hospitality.
The two leaders also had a working tea before a closed-door lunch. Trump praised Xi as a "great leader" and "friend," though Xi's tones were more muted. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!"
Trump also addressed Xi's remark that the United States was perhaps a declining nation, saying the Chinese leader was referring to the damage suffered during the Biden administration. "Our country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender policies for everybody, men in women's sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more," Trump wrote. He asserted that under his leadership, the US had witnessed an "incredible rise."
The summit concluded with a working lunch, after which Trump departed for Washington. The outcomes of the visit are expected to shape US-China relations for the near future, with both sides emphasizing the need for strategic stability and cooperation on global challenges.
Source: MSN News