ALBAWABA- US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he held a “long and thorough” phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, covering a wide range of bilateral and global topics.
Key discussion points included trade, military cooperation, Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran’s regional activities, US oil and gas exports to China, and increased agricultural purchases, including a commitment to raise soybean imports to 20 million tons. Trump expressed enthusiasm for his planned April visit to Beijing, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties.
Chinese state media confirmed the call, reporting that Xi emphasized mutual respect and managing differences to maintain stable relations. The dialogue comes amid heightened US-China tensions over technology, human rights, and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
Tariff tensions remain from Trump’s earlier trade war, which imposed duties on billions of Chinese goods and prompted retaliatory measures from Beijing. Recent US arms sales to Taiwan have further strained relations, with China calling for caution.
The conversation followed Xi’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier the same day, illustrating Beijing’s delicate position amid multiple global conflicts.
The call also came shortly after Trump’s February 2 discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in a trade deal that reduced US tariffs on Indian goods and encouraged India to halt Russian oil purchases while boosting US imports.
These moves are part of Trump’s broader strategy to economically isolate Russia and counter China’s regional influence, though implementation details remain limited.
