Comments on the Trump-Xi meeting & Iran war in The National, 13 May 2026

Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments on The Trump-Xi meeting & potential discussions on Iran’s oil exports appeared in an article in The National titled “China’s status as Iran’s top oil customer in focus before Trump-Xi meeting” published on 13th May 2026.

Mr Trump’s visit comes as he threatens to extend a lengthy blockade on Hormuz. China is not immune to disruptions in the Middle East, for which it receives more than half of its imports. China’s oil imports fell 20 per cent in April to their lowest level since 2022, Reuters reported, quoting customs data.

The comments are posted below.

Clean-energy technologies contributed to 11.4 per cent of China’s economy last year, according to a Carbon Brief analysis.

“The diversified energy mix means that China is no longer dependent on a dominant source of energy or a dominant supplier country for energy imports,” said Nasser Saidi, president of Nasser Saidi and Associates.

The US has also been racing to catch up with China in the race for the world’s critical minerals. China accounts for 70 per cent of the world’s rare-earth minerals mining and 90 per cent of processing.