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Trump Says Xi Offered to Help Keep Strait of Hormuz Open, Touts Beijing Trip Gains

Source

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

Trump said Xi indicated he wants to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open and also said China would not provide military equipment to Iran.
Trump said Xi agreed to buy US soybeans, energy products and 200 Boeing 737 aircraft, highlighting them as gains from the Beijing trip.
Trump appears set to present sales of US soybeans, beef and Boeing aircraft as an achievement built on an extension of the US-China trade truce.

Forecast Trend Report by Period

President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping told him he wants to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported that Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity during his Beijing trip on May 14, Beijing time. Trump said Xi wants the waterway to remain open and indicated he would like to help "in any way" he can.

Trump also said Xi made clear that China would not provide military equipment to Iran. Only part of the interview has been released in a preview clip, and fuller context for Xi's remarks is expected when the full interview airs on the evening of May 14 in the Eastern time zone.

On trade, Trump said China agreed to buy US soybeans, oil, liquefied natural gas and 200 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Hill reported that Boeing has been negotiating with China over the sale of 500 737 Max jets.

Trump appears to be highlighting sales of US soybeans, beef and Boeing aircraft as achievements ahead of the November midterm elections, building on an extension of the US-China "trade truce" during the trip.

Xi, by contrast, is looking for a shift in the US position on Taiwan and looser export controls on advanced semiconductors to China. The key question is how far the two sides can narrow their differences during the visit.

Oh Se-seong, Hankyung.com reporter, sesung@hankyung.com