Beijing (TDI): Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation Thursday evening, expressing cautious optimism about mending bilateral ties amid lingering tensions.
Xi emphasized that managing the world’s most significant bilateral relationship “requires us to take the helm and set the right course.”
The conversation followed a recent high-level meeting between US and Chinese economic officials in Geneva, which both leaders reportedly saw as a promising reset after months of strained interaction.
“The Geneva dialogue reflected a shared desire to resolve issues through mutual respect and negotiation,” Xi said.
He stressed that China remains committed to agreements reached there and called on the US to acknowledge that progress rather than resort to punitive actions.
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The Taiwan issue also came up, with Xi emphasized that the US must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on “Taiwan independence” will not be able to drag Beijing and Washington into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict.
For his part, Trump responded with warmth and struck a cooperative tone. He reaffirmed his respect for Xi, praised the Geneva meeting as productive, and reiterated America’s adherence to the One-China policy.
“We want China to succeed economically,” Trump said, according to officials briefed on the call. “When China does well and the US does well, the world benefits.”
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Trump also welcomed more Chinese students studying in the US and expressed gratitude for Xi’s invitation to visit China again, an offer he reportedly accepted enthusiastically.
Both leaders agreed to instruct their teams to continue working on the momentum built in Geneva, with plans for another round of talks in the near future.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
