US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed issues including TikTok, trade and Taiwan in a phone call on Friday, just days before Trump takes office again promising tariffs that could ratchet up tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
Both leaders were upbeat about the call, with Trump calling it “a very good one” and Xi saying he and Trump both hoped for a positive start to US-China relations, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. It was the first phone call between the pair since Trump’s election win in Nov.
“The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A. It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately. We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
“President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!” Xi raised China’s concerns a bout Taiwan.
“The Taiwan issue concerns China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and he hopes the US side will handle it with caution,” according to CCTV. Xi also said the US and China can have their differences but must respect each other’s core interests.
This is a Reuters’ story
