Trump Says China Could Help Open the Strait of Hormuz, Buy 200 Boeing Jets in U.S.-China Summit

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[Financial News] China, Iran's biggest ally, has signaled to the United States that it may help keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Beijing, however, drew a line by saying it would not stop importing Iranian oil.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting China, said in an interview with Fox News on the 14th that he discussed Iran with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip. He claimed that Xi said he wanted the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and added, "He said, 'If I can be of any help, I want to help.'"
Trump also claimed that Xi complained about reports that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz were being charged tolls. "He said, 'You know, they [Iran] blocked the strait and then you [the United States] blocked them,'" Trump said. He added that Xi said, "We are not going to give military equipment to Iran. That is a big statement," and emphasized, "He said it very strongly."
Xi, who met with Trump on the 14th, did not directly mention Iran. Later that day, the White House issued a statement saying, "Both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to ensure the free flow of energy." It added, "Xi made clear China's opposition to any efforts to militarize the Strait of Hormuz or impose fees for its use." The Chinese government, however, only said that the two leaders "exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East" during their meeting and did not provide further details.
Trump also said Xi would not stop buying Iranian oil. China, the world's largest oil importer, takes in about 90% of Iran's oil exports. In the Fox News interview on the 14th, Trump claimed, "Xi said China buys a lot of crude oil from Iran and wants to keep doing so in the future."
Meanwhile, Trump said in the interview that China would buy 200 aircraft from Boeing. Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing, accompanied Trump on the trip to China. Trump said Xi agreed to one of the deals announced that day: an order for 200 aircraft. "Two hundred large aircraft means a huge number of jobs. Boeing was talking about 150, but we got 200 exports," he said.
Trump did not specify the aircraft model. CNBC later estimated that the export target was Boeing's flagship 737 MAX. Earlier, the U.S. investment bank Jefferies had estimated that aircraft sales tied to the trip would total 500 planes.
 
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter