The White House has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed interest in increasing oil imports from the United States during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday.
According to the White House readout of the talks, Xi Jinping signalled that China may look to buy more US crude oil in the future as part of efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on energy shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route currently affected by regional tensions.
The statement said both leaders also agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open” to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global energy supplies. The waterway is critical for international trade, with around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passing through it under normal conditions.
Washington said China has been significantly impacted by disruptions in the strait, as more than half of its seaborne crude imports originate from the Middle East and transit through the chokepoint, according to maritime data firm Kpler.
The White House added that expanding US oil imports could help China diversify its supply sources and reduce vulnerability linked to instability in the Middle East energy corridor.
However, Beijing’s official statement on the meeting did not mention any discussion regarding increased US oil purchases or energy trade diversification.
The Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly unstable amid ongoing regional conflict, which has already disrupted shipping routes and pushed up global energy prices.
The White House statement also notably avoided mentioning Taiwan, an issue that remains a major source of tension between Washington and Beijing.
Earlier, Chinese state media reported that Xi Jinping warned the United States that mismanagement of sensitive issues could risk triggering broader conflict between the two powers.
.jpg "LPG cylinder price reduced to Tk1,885 in Bangladesh")
