President Trump said Thursday that China is preparing to invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” into companies led by top American executives who accompanied him during his meetings this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that aired Thursday night, Trump said the business leaders traveling with him were focused on securing major economic agreements and bringing jobs back to the United States.

“Those business people are here to make deals and to bring back jobs,” Trump said of the dozens of executives and entrepreneurs that accompanied him on his historic trip to Beijing.

“China’s going to invest hundreds of billions of dollars with those people that were in that room today,” the president told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview that aired Thursday night. “That’s why they came.”

Trump also disclosed that several prominent executives — including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook — were not originally expected to participate in the formal meeting between the American delegation and Xi at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

“I suggested that before we start the meeting, ‘I’d like to introduce them to you,’” Trump said, “and they were surprised, because it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t scheduled.”

According to Trump, Chinese officials eventually embraced the unexpected addition to the meeting despite the last-minute change in protocol.

Trump said Chinese leadership “really had a good time” once they “got used to the fact that we’re a little off schedule here.”

“They did fantastically well,” he said of the businesspeople. “It was really good.”

“Xi actually said that was very good. That was a good idea, but it was very different from what the schedule had.”

The Hannity interview was recorded Wednesday following Trump’s lengthy meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, which lasted more than two hours.

So far, both leaders have projected a cooperative tone, particularly regarding Iran and the broader state of U.S.-China relations.

A White House summary of the summit said “both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also claimed Xi expressed willingness to help de-escalate tensions involving Iran.

“President Xi would like to see a deal made, he would, he would like to see a deal made. And he did offer. He said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,’” Trump told Hannity.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open. He said, ‘If I could be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” the president added, noting that Xi intends to continue purchasing oil from the regime and “didn’t like the fact that they are charging tolls.”

Trump further stated that Xi committed not to provide military assistance to Tehran.

“He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said.

At a formal state banquet honoring Trump on Wednesday, Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining stable ties between Washington and Beijing.

“We must make it work, and never mess it up.”

Xi also referenced Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan while speaking optimistically about future relations between the two powers.

“achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,”

Trump and Xi were scheduled to meet again Thursday evening at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, the headquarters compound of the Chinese Communist Party and the location of Xi’s main official residence.

The two leaders planned to continue discussions over tea and lunch, with talks expected to cover Iran, trade, investment, and Taiwan.

Following the working lunch, Trump was expected to depart Beijing and conclude his fast-moving three-day visit to China.

{Matzav.com}