‘I look forward to being with him’: Trump says China’s Xi ‘very happy’ with Hormuz reopening

Trump’s upcoming visit to China, where he is expected to meet Xi in May, has drawn global attention

April 18, 2026

Trump says next month’s meeting with Xi could be ‘historic’

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Chinese President Xi Jinping is “very happy” following Iran’s decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, adding that he is looking forward to meeting his Chinese counterpart next month.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said,
“President Xi is very happy that the Strait of Hormuz is open and/or rapidly opening,”
and added,
“Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic. I look forward to being with President Xi — Much will be accomplished!”

High-stakes China visit

Trump’s upcoming visit to China, where he is expected to meet Xi in May, has drawn global attention. The visit is likely to mark the first time in nearly a decade that a sitting US president travels to China.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the visit is scheduled for May 14 and 15, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the dates.

The trip was initially planned for March but was postponed due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The meeting is now being seen as an opportunity for both sides to ease tensions and address trade frictions that have strained bilateral relations in recent years.

Focus on diplomacy and cooperation

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said both countries are maintaining close communication regarding the visit, emphasising the importance of leadership-level engagement.

He noted that “leader-level diplomacy” plays a key role in guiding the “irreplaceable strategic” relationship between the two nations.

Chinese state media also highlighted the need for stronger people-to-people exchanges, suggesting that limited interaction in recent years has contributed to current tensions.

In an editorial, the Global Times said,
“History has repeatedly shown that both China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,”
adding,
“China’s policy toward the US has remained consistent, stable, and predictable, emphasizing mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and serving as a steady and reliable force for improving bilateral relations.”

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