U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, marking their first direct conversation since Trump returned to the White House in January. The nearly two-hour discussion touched on several key issues, including trade, fentanyl trafficking, the war in Ukraine, and prospects for Middle East peace.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the exchange as “very productive,” noting that the two leaders had achieved “great mutual respect and understanding.” He highlighted progress on the TikTok deal, which both sides have given preliminary approval. The agreement is expected to require ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its stake in U.S. operations, though details remain unclear. Trump celebrated the development as “a big WIN for America and its great Farmers, Manufacturers, and Tech Companies.”
The APEC Forum, scheduled to begin October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea, will now serve as the stage for their first in-person meeting of Trump’s second term. Trump added that plans are also underway for a state visit to China in early 2026, while Xi is expected to make a reciprocal trip to the United States at a later date.
The conversation comes amid renewed tensions in U.S.-China relations. Earlier this week, Washington extended its ban on TikTok until December 16, the fourth such extension since Trump retook office. Trade disputes, U.S. pressure on China over its energy purchases from Russia, and concerns about Chinese technology have strained dialogue between the two powers.
The delay in leader-level communication contrasts sharply with Trump’s first term, when he spoke to Xi within three weeks of taking office and hosted him at Mar-a-Lago in April 2017. This time, it took more than eight months before the two leaders engaged directly, underscoring the challenges both sides face in stabilizing relations.
The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit at the beginning of the month along with China's Victory Day military parade on September 3rd which saw Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong Un standing alongside Xi in a display that struck a tone at a changing world that wasn't ignored in Washington, which may have played into Trump's call with Xi and moves on negotiations.