Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues amid the Iran war, China said on Friday.
The two leaders held an "in-depth exchange of views" on major issues concerning both countries and the world and reached a series of "new common understandings," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, according to a statement, as Trump made the first visit by a US president to China since 2017.
They agreed on a "new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability to provide strategic guidance for China-US relations over the next three years and beyond, promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations, and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world," the spokesperson said.
Trump and Xi also reached "important common understandings on handling their mutual concerns in a proper manner," the spokesperson said.
Interactions between the two presidents have strengthened "mutual understanding, deepened mutual trust, advanced practical cooperation, increased benefits for the people of both countries, and injected much-needed stability and certainty into the world," the spokesperson added.
On Thursday, Trump said Xi told him Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran and expressed support for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.
"He said he’s not going to give military equipment. That’s a big statement," he said.
China says 'no point in continuing' Iran war
Meanwhile, China said on Friday that there was "no point in continuing" the US/Israeli war on Iran as Xi hosted Trump on the final day of their Beijing summit.
"There is no point in continuing this conflict, which should not have happened in the first place," said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson in response to a question on whether the two sides discussed Iran and about Beijing’s position on the war.
"To find an early way to resolve the situation is in the interest of not only the US and Iran, but also regional countries and the rest of the world," the spokesperson said.
As the door to dialogue has now been opened, "it should not be shut again," the spokesperson said, urging efforts to maintain momentum toward de-escalation and pursue a political settlement, as well as dialogue and consultation to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and other concerns.
The spokesperson also stressed the importance of reopening shipping lanes "as soon as possible to respond to the call of the international community and jointly keep the global supply chains stable and unimpeded."
"It is important to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, enable peace and stability to return to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date, and lay the foundation for building a sustainable security architecture for the region," the spokesperson added.
Trump said on Thursday in an interview with FOX News that Xi "would like to see a deal made."
"He said, 'If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.' Anybody that buys that much oil has obviously got some kind of relationship, but he'd like to see the Hormuz Strait open," Trump added.
Xi and Trump also met last year on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea.
The Chinese president held a welcome ceremony and banquet for his US counterpart, and the two held talks and visited the Temple of Heaven on Thursday.
The two leaders participated in a greeting ceremony and friendship photo on Friday, after which Xi hosted Trump for a bilateral tea session and a working lunch.
Trump is scheduled to depart Beijing following the event.
His visit to China comes amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, triggered after US and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliation against Israel and US allies in the Gulf along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
An indefinite ceasefire is currently in effect.
