United States President Donald Trump said he held an “excellent” telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders discussed trade, energy, Taiwan, Iran and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The call took place on Wednesday, several hours after President Xi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During that conversation, both leaders agreed to deepen bilateral ties amid what they described as a turbulent international environment.
“All very positive,” Trump wrote in a social media post. He said the relationship between the United States and China, as well as his personal relationship with President Xi, remained extremely strong and important for both sides.
The US president is expected to visit China in April. He has repeatedly highlighted his personal rapport with Xi, despite ongoing tensions between the two countries over technology, trade and geopolitical issues, including the future of Taiwan.
Trump said the leaders also spoke about the situation in Iran, which has seen recent protests followed by a strict security crackdown. He said that Washington has threatened military action if Tehran fails to make significant concessions on a range of issues, though he provided no further details.
A statement released by China’s Xinhua state news agency did not mention Trump’s expected visit to China. It said the two leaders had maintained good communication, including a face-to-face meeting in Busan, South Korea, last year.
According to the Chinese readout, President Xi said differences between China and the United States could be managed so long as they were approached with equality and mutual respect. He added that reunification with Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory, remains a central priority for Beijing.
“Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China–US relations,” the statement said, adding that the United States should exercise great caution in arms sales to Taiwan.
“Taiwan is China’s territory. China must safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and it will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China,” the statement added.
The United States approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, one of the largest in recent years, aimed at strengthening the island’s defence capabilities.
Trump also said China had agreed to raise its purchases of US soya beans from 12 million tonnes this season to 20 million tonnes, calling it a positive development for American farmers. He added that China had committed to buying 25 million tonnes in the following season.
The Chinese statement made no reference to any agreement on soya bean purchases.
