Xi, Trump agree Hormuz must remain open, says White House after US-China summit in Beijing

Trump vows to push Xi to 'open up' China to US firms, with Musk and Jensen Huang in his delegation

Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed with US President Donald Trump that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, the White House said on Thursday following the US-China summit in Beijing.

According to NBC News, the White House shared a statement about the Trump-Xi talks, not mentioning the issue regarding Taiwan and extensively referring to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.

“President Trump had a good meeting with President Xi of China," a White House official said.

"The two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment in our industries. Leaders from many of the United States’ largest companies joined a portion of the meeting," the official said.

"The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy. President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the strait in the future,” the White House official added.

“Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the official noted.

The official also said that Trump and Xi "highlighted the need to build on progress in ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States, as well as increasing Chinese purchases of American agricultural products."

Trump heralds 'fantastic future' for US-China

US President Donald Trump on Thursday told China's Xi Jinping their countries would have "a fantastic future together", as they began a superpower summit in Beijing on thorny issues including Iran, trade and Taiwan.

Heaping praise on his host, Trump told Xi it was "an honour to be your friend", as the Chinese leader, in less effusive tones, said the two sides "should be partners and not rivals".

Xi warned his US counterpart that the issue of Taiwan could push their two countries into "conflict" if mishandled, a stark opening salvo as a superpower summit set to tackle numerous thorny issues began in Beijing Thursday.

Temple of Heaven

Trump had arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a "great leader" and "friend", as he predicted that their countries would have "a fantastic future together".

Trump visited the Temple of Heaven. Xi greeted Trump outside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The leaders had a photo taken in front of the Hall and took a tour of the Hall, according to Xinhua.

But beyond the pomp as he welcomed Trump, Xi used less effusive tones, saying the two sides "should be partners and not rivals" and highlighting the issue of self-ruled democratic Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as its territory -- straight off the bat.

"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations," Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

"If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation."

Also Read: Oil edges up as investors focus on Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing

The trip to Beijing is the first by a US president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a host of unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Xi had greeted Trump with a red carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People with military band fanfare, a gun salute and a host of schoolchildren jumping and chanting "welcome!"

The trip to Beijing is the first by a US president in nearly a decade, with the grand reception belying a host of unresolved trade and geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Xi questioned if China and the US could build cooperation rather than head for confrontation, as he underlined that "a stable China-US relationship is a boon for the world.

"Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both," Xi said.

There has been plenty of the latter since Trump's last visit in 2017, with the two countries having spent much of 2025 embroiled in a dizzying trade war and at odds on many major global issues.

Read More: China reiterates opposition to US arms sales ahead of Trump visit

A new addition to that list, the Iran war, threatens to weaken Trump's position in the talks, having already forced him to postpone his trip from March.

The US president said he expected a "long talk" with Xi about Iran, which sells most of its US-sanctioned oil to China, but insisted that "I don't think we need any help with Iran" from Beijing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, known throughout his career as a fierce opponent of Beijing, struck a somewhat different tone.

"We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they are doing now, and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf," Rubio told broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired Wednesday.

Trade and tariffs

Top of Trump's wish list for the summit will be business deals on agriculture, aircraft and other topics.
Elite businessmen in the US leader's delegation, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Tesla's Elon Musk, were on the stairs of the Great Hall of the People on Thursday for the welcome ceremony.

The US entrepreneurs said that they attach great importance to the Chinese market, and hope to deepen their business operations in China and strengthen cooperation with China, according to Xinhua.

Xi said that US companies are deeply involved in China's reform and opening up, and both sides have benefited from this. Noting that China's door will only open wider, Xi said China welcomes the United States to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, and expressed belief that US companies will enjoy even broader prospects in China.

Musk told reporters afterwards the meeting had been "wonderful", while Huang said the two presidents "were incredible".

Aboard Air Force One en route to Beijing, Trump vowed on social media to push Xi to "open up" China to US firms, so that these brilliant people can work their magic".

The long-simmering trade war between the two countries will also be top of the agenda, after Trump's sweeping tariffs last year triggered tit-for-tat levies that exceeded 100 percent.

Also Read: Trump vows to push Xi to 'open up' China at superpower summit

Trump and Xi are set to discuss extending a one-year tariff truce, which the two leaders reached during their last meeting in South Korea in October, although a deal is far from certain.

On Taiwan, another issue that has bedevilled ties, Trump said Monday he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to the self-governing democracy claimed by China.

That would be a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on its support for the island, and one which will be closely watched by Taipei and US allies in the region.

China's controls on rare earth exports and AI rivalry are among other topics expected to be taken up by the two heads of state.

Both sides will be looking to come out of the summit with whatever wins they can, while also stabilising an often tense bilateral relationship that has global implications.

Trump will also be hoping to leave with a firm date for a reciprocal visit by Xi to the United States later in 2026, to prove his rapport with his Chinese counterpart.