New Delhi, May 14 -- US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during talks in Beijing on Thursday (May 14) that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free from militarization, amid growing global concerns over the ongoing Iran conflict and disruptions to global energy supplies.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said both leaders also agreed that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

"The Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Strait of Hormuz, and they're not in favor of a tolling system, and that's our position," Rubio told NBC News after Trump and Xi held more than two hours of talks with their delegations in Beijing.

The Iran conflict emerged as a central issue ...