US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is “very happy” about the Strait of Hormuz reopening and that “much will be accomplished” during their meeting scheduled for next month.Taking to social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed, “President Xi is very happy that the Strait of Hormuz is open and/or rapidly opening.” Commenting on the upcoming meeting between the two leaders, he said, “Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic. I look forward to being with President Xi — Much will be accomplished!”The statement comes at a time when global oil supplies have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The crisis began back on February 28 when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. Since then, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have choked global energy shipments across the globe, disrupting 20% of the world’s oil pipeline. Although a ceasefire has been in place for two weeks, movement through the route remains limited.This is not the first time that the US President has hinted at China’s positive reaction to the Strait of Hormuz reopening. “China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran,” Trump said through a post on Truth Social.He also referred to direct communication with Xi over the issue of arms supplies to Iran, saying the Chinese leader had denied any such involvement. “I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he’s not doing that,” Trump told Fox News.Trump further added that he expects a warm welcome during his planned visit to China in the coming weeks, while describing cooperation between the two countries as effective. At the same time, he stressed the United States’ military strength. “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to – far better than anyone else!” Trump added.Shipping traffic through the Strait, which previously saw more than 130 crossings a day, has dropped sharply and continues at a fraction of usual levels.
