US, Iran should return to dialogue to end war, Xi tells Trump at White House

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday urged the US and Iran to return to dialogue to end the war during a closed-door meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

China has "always maintained that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected" and has played a constructive role in easing tensions and encouraging negotiations, Xi said, according to state-run Xinhua.

He expressed China's support for the US and Iran returning to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and voiced hope that both sides would return as soon as possible to resolving their differences through negotiations, reach a comprehensive agreement, including on the nuclear issue, and achieve peace.

Xi also urged the US to "adhere to the correct position of opposing 'Taiwan independence'" and handle the Taiwan question prudently to lay a solid foundation for bilateral strategic cooperation and relations.

Beijing's position on safeguarding its national unity and territorial integrity is "crystal clear," he said.

Xi also said that building a constructive China-US relationship based on strategic stability is not an expedient measure, adding that the new vision for such a relationship is a step forward in helping the two countries find the right way to get along.