 "US President Donald Trump with China's President Xi Jinping. Reuters File")
US President Donal Trump on Thursday said he had a “very productive” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders discussed a wide range of critical issues including trade relations, the fentanyl crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the pending TikTok deal.
Taking to Truth Social shortly after the conversation, President Trump said, “We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the war between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok deal.”
Trump said the two leaders also agreed to meet in person during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, with additional plans for reciprocal state visits in the near future.
“I also agreed with President Xi that we would meet at the APEC Summit in South Korea, that I would go to China in the early part of next year, and that President Xi would, likewise, come to the United States at an appropriate time,” added Trump.
Describing the tone of the discussion as constructive, Trump said, “The call was a very good one. We will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC.”
It was the first conversation between the two leaders since June and their second since Trump started his second term in January.
Trump told reporters ahead of the call that he hoped it would finalise a deal to take out of Chinese hands TikTok, the social media hugely popular with young Americans that the Republican mogul has turned to himself to garner support.
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More ShortsHowever, neither side reported a final agreement.
China offered a sterner take on the talks.
“On the TikTok issue, Xi noted that China’s position is clear: the Chinese government respects the will of enterprises and welcomes them to conduct business negotiations based on market rules, to reach solutions that balance interests and comply with Chinese laws and regulations,” AFP quoted state broadcaster CCTV as saying.
“China hopes the US side will provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the United States.”
It described the call as “frank and in-depth.”
With inputs from agencies