Xi, Trump visit Temple of Heaven

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi greeted Trump outside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The leaders had a photo taken in front of the Hall and took a tour of the Hall.

At the invitation of Xi, Trump is on a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the UAE's energy giant, announced that two of its key subsidiaries, ADNOC Drilling and ADNOC Distribution, delivered solid profit growth in the first quarter of this year, demonstrating operational resilience despite ongoing regional geopolitical uncertainties.

According to newly released financial reports, ADNOC Drilling generated revenue of 1.23 billion U.S. dollars in Q1, a 5-percent increase from the same period last year, while its net profit rose 2 percent to 350 million U.S. dollars. The company attributed the solid performance to a portfolio of long-term contracts, high utilization rates of equipment, and sustained operational efficiency.

ADNOC Distribution posted even stronger growth, with first-quarter net profit surging 20.7 percent year on year to 210 million U.S. dollars. The growth reflects strategic network expansion and strengthening international operations.

"[The Middle East tensions have] no impact actually in the supply of the fuel. This year versus last year, we added 13 [gas service] stations in the UAE. So, additional stations [are] bringing higher volumes. And finally, the international businesses that we have, Saudi Arabia has been growing, and Egypt has been growing also. If you look at Saudi Arabia, under the DO/CO model, Dealer Operated, Company Owned, we added roughly 40 stations," said Athmane Benzerroug, Chief Strategy, Transformation, Investor Relations and Sustainability Officer, at ADNOC Distribution.

While emphasizing supply chain stability, Benzerroug said, to address potential energy security challenges, the company is actively advancing diversification and localization of energy systems to reduce reliance on external fossil fuel sources.

Earlier this month, ADNOC announced plans to award projects worth 200 billion dirhams (about 54.46 billion U.S. dollars) between 2026 and 2028 as part of its investment strategy to accelerate growth. The projects span the full value chain, from exploration and production to refining and marketing, aimed at meeting global demand and enhancing sector resilience.

A key pillar of this transition is the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, as ADNOC Distribution is systematically deploying charging networks across its service stations.

"By the end of this year, we're going to have roughly 450 EV chargers. And by 2028, I would say 500 to 750 EV chargers. So, we are deploying in a disciplined manner," said Benzerroug.