admin US President Donald Trump on Thursday said President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz and pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel.
“He said he’s not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show on Fox News, after the two leaders met in Beijing.
“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,'” Trump added.
‘200 BIG ONES’
Trump also said that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing jets, speaking of an order for “200 big ones” in a broadcast interview.
“It was sort of like a statement but I think it was a commitment,” Trump said, describing his conversation with President Xi Jinping in a Fox News interview.
Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony with Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. AP
“That’s a lot of jobs,” Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity in excerpts released by the broadcaster. Shares fell after the spots were released.
US media reports had described a possible China order of around 500 single-aisle Boeing 737 MAX planes, in addition to 100 larger models, such as the 787 Dreamliner and 777.
Boeing did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg was part of the US delegation for the Beijing summit.
Donald Trump stands with Xi Jinping at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. AP
Ortberg told analysts last month that he was hopeful about a China order, saying “I think that’s 100% dependent on the US-China negotiations and relations.”
Boeing’s last order from China’s authorities came in 2017, when Trump visited Beijing during his first term. It was for 300 aircraft (single and dual aisles), for an estimated $37 billion. Shares of Boeing were down 4 percent shortly after 1700 GMT.
PRESIDENT XI WARNS TRUMP ON TAIWAN AT BEIJING SUMMIT
Earlier, President Xi warned his US counterpart Trump that missteps on Taiwan could push their two countries into “conflict,” a stark opening salvo as they met in Beijing on Thursday at a superpower summit.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shake hands as they attend a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. AFP
Trump arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a “great leader” and “friend” and extending an invitation to visit the White House in September.
Beyond the pomp as he welcomed Trump, Xi in less effusive tones said the two sides “should be partners and not rivals,” and quickly highlighted the issue of Taiwan — which Beijing claims as its territory.
“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said, according to remarks published by Chinese state media shortly after the start of the talks, which lasted two hours and 15 minutes.
“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” Xi added.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. AP
Xi greeted Trump with a red-carpet welcome at the opulent Great Hall of the People, with military band fanfare, a 21-gun salute and a host of schoolchildren chanting “welcome!” Seemingly enjoying the ceremony, Trump said “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”
Agence France-Presse
