US president leaves Beijing with few wins, many warm words for Chinese counterpart after two-day visit
US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran is running out,. he had agreed in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Islamic Republic cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve," Trump said on Friday after he met Xi in Beijing on the second day of talks which included the Iran war, Taiwan, trade. other issues.
Iran effectively shut the strait to most shipping traffic in response to US-Israeli attacks. which began on February 28, causing an unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies. China is close to Iran and the main buyer of its oil.
The US paused its attacks on Iran last month but began a blockade of the country's ports. Talks aimed at ending the conflict have stalled with Iran refusing to end its nuclear program or relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium. Tehran denies it intends to build a nuclear weapon.
Xi did not comment on his discussions with Trump about Iran. although China's foreign ministry issued a blunt statement outlining Beijing's frustration with the Iran war.
"This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue," the ministry said.
Trump said of Iran in an interview aired on Thursday night onFox News' "Hannity" programme: "I am not going to be much more patient. They should make a deal."
On the key issue of Iran's hidden stockpile of enriched uranium. Trump suggested it only needed to be secured by the US for public relations purposes.
"I don't think it's necessary except from a public relations standpoint," Trump said in the interview.
"I just feel better if I got it, actually. But it's, I think, it's more for public relations than it is for anything else."
After talks between Trump. Xi on Thursday, the White House said the leaders had agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China's opposition to the militarisation of the waterway and any effort to charge a toll for its use, as Iran has threatened to do.
Trump said Xi also promised not to send Iran military equipment. "He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement," Trump said on "Hannity".
Xi also expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's future dependence on the strait. the White House readout of the talks said.
Trump says he spoke a lot about Taiwan with Xi, sees no conflict
Trump said on Friday he discussed US arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing. said he would soon decide on the matter, highlighting a flashpoint in US-China relations.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return from China, Trump said he. Xi “talked a lot about Taiwan” but added that he did not believe there was conflict over the issue. He said he made no commitments to Xi regarding Taiwan.
Trump also said Xi asked directly whether the United States would defend Taiwan if China attacked the island,. that he declined to answer.
“There's only one person who knows that, and it is me. I'm the only person,” Trump said. “That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, I don't talk about that.”
China sees Taiwan as its own territory. has long opposed US weapons sales to the island, which Beijing sees as interference in its internal affairs. The United States, despite lacking formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, remains Taiwan’s most important international backer. largest supplier of arms.
Trump leaves Beijing with few wins, many warm words for Xi
Trump departed China on Friday, touting business deals that gave markets little to cheer, while Beijing warned Washington about mishandling Taiwan. said its war with Iran should never have started.
Trump's visit to America's main strategic. economic rival, the first by a US president since his last trip in 2017, aimed for tangible results to beef up his dented approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections.
The summit was filled with pageantry, from grand receptions with goose-stepping soldiers to lavish banquets. private tours of a secret garden, while Trump repeatedly heaped praise on his host, commenting on his warmth and stature.
"It's been an incredible visit. I think a lot of good has come of it," Trump told Xi at their final meeting at the Zhongnanhai complex, a former imperial garden housing the offices of Chinese leaders, before they dined on a menu of lobster balls. Kung Pao scallops.
Welcoming Trump. Xi explained the historical significance of the Zhongnanhai Palace, noting that it had served as the residence of many of his predecessors. He also recalled Trump's reception for him at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in 2017.
"I've chosen this place especially to reciprocate the hospitality extended to me," said the Chinese president.
But just before Friday's meeting, China's foreign ministry issued a blunt statement outlining its frustration with the United States. Israel's war with Iran.
"This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue," the ministry said, adding that China was supporting efforts to reach a peace deal in a war that had severely affected energy supplies. the global economy.
At Zhongnanhai, Trump said the leaders had discussed Iran and felt "very similar", though Xi did not comment.
Trump had been expected to urge China to use its leverage with Iran to make a deal. But 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 US summary of Thursday's talks highlighted what the White House called the leaders' shared desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz off Iran, through which a fifth of global oil. gas once flowed, and Xi's apparent interest in American oil purchases to pare its dependence on the Middle East.
"What's notable is that there's no Chinese commitment to do anything specific with regards to Iran," said Patricia Kim. a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Trump's visit to 'enhance mutual understanding, trust': Chinese president
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said Trump's visit to Beijing will "enhance mutual understanding. trust," according to the state-run news agency.
Xi described Trump's three-day visit, the first by a US president in nine years, as a "historic. landmark" one, adding that the two sides "had set the new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability," Xinhua reported.
"We had reached important common understandings on maintaining stable economic. trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly addressing each other's concerns," Xi said.
The two presidents also agreed to enhance communication. coordination on international and regional issues, Xi said, adding that Trump's visit was "conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, deepening mutual trust and improving the well-being of the two peoples."
He added that the visit shows that achieving peaceful coexistence. win-win cooperation between China and the US, based on "mutual respect," is what the people of both countries and the international community expect.
Beijing. Washington can promote their respective development and revitalisation through strengthened cooperation, Xi said, urging both sides to implement the consensus reached, "preserve the hard-won positive momentum, calibrate direction, eliminate interference, and promote the stable development of bilateral ties."
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see ourComments FAQ
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.