Xi backs reopening of Hormuz Strait, China says war should not have started

WASHINGTON/BEIJING — U.S. President Donald Trump returned from a two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping after talks that analysts described as stable but largely inconclusive, highlighting the continued strategic and economic rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.

The meeting signaled a return to a more familiar U.S.-China standoff following last year’s intense trade conflict and the temporary easing of tensions that followed. While both sides projected cooperation and stability, key disputes over trade, technology, military influence, and economic policy remained unresolved.

During the summit, Xi introduced what he described as a framework for “constructive strategic stability,” suggesting Beijing prefers a more predictable and manageable relationship with Washington rather than direct confrontation.

Analysts said China appeared to gain more from the summit after the Trump administration softened its earlier aggressive trade posture. Scott Kennedy, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the relationship had effectively returned to a state of cautious stability after the sharp escalation of tariffs in 2025.

Trump arrived in Beijing alongside several prominent American business leaders, including executives from Tesla and NVIDIA, but the visit produced few major commercial outcomes.

The White House said the summit resulted in agreements involving agricultural exports and potential aircraft sales from Boeing, although details remained limited. Trump claimed China could purchase up to 200 Boeing aircraft, a figure significantly below expectations discussed before the visit.

No major breakthroughs were announced on advanced semiconductor exports, including NVIDIA’s H200 artificial intelligence chips, an issue closely watched by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers concerned about China’s AI development.

Trade negotiators also failed to finalize an extension of the current trade truce, which is set to expire in five months. Sources familiar with the discussions said China wanted a longer extension and additional assurances regarding possible future U.S. tariffs tied to ongoing investigations.

Former U.S. trade officials described the summit’s economic outcomes as modest compared to Trump’s 2017 China visit, during which companies signed agreements reportedly worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

Despite limited results, both Washington and Beijing emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication. China’s embassy in Washington described the talks as “constructive and strategic,” while the White House said Trump used his relationship with Xi to secure practical benefits for Americans.

The conflict involving Iran also emerged as a major topic during the summit. Trump said Xi agreed that Tehran should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes for oil and liquefied natural gas. However, Chinese officials did not publicly confirm any commitment to pressure Iran.

China’s foreign ministry criticized the ongoing war, describing it as a conflict that “should never have happened,” but stopped short of directly intervening in negotiations.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli military actions launched earlier this year, triggering severe disruptions in global energy markets. The blockade has contributed to soaring oil prices and increased fears of a prolonged global supply crisis.

Iranian officials said a new system for managing traffic through the strait would soon be introduced, with priority access reportedly given to commercial vessels cooperating with Tehran.

The conflict has already caused thousands of deaths across Iran and Lebanon, while tensions continue to affect global financial markets. Oil prices climbed approximately 3% on Friday, reaching around $109 per barrel, as investors reacted to stalled diplomatic efforts and continued instability in the region.

Trump reiterated that the United States wants Iran to reopen the strait and prevent the development of nuclear weapons. Iran has denied pursuing nuclear arms but has refused to halt nuclear research activities or surrender its enriched uranium stockpile.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran remained open to diplomacy and would welcome constructive involvement from China, although he expressed continued distrust toward Washington following previous U.S. military strikes.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran remain stalled after both sides rejected recent proposals aimed at ending the conflict.