US President Donald Trump held a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday as the two leaders discussed global issues, including the tense situation in Iran.
Donald Trump added that the relationship between the US and China and his personal relationship with President Xi is ‘extremely good’ and that they both realize how important it is to keep it that way. (AP file photo)The call came after the Trump administration pressed several countries, including Beijing, to isolate Tehran, news agency AP reported.
According to Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social, the two leaders discussed a wide range of other important issues in the US-China relationship, including trade, Taiwan and a planned visit to Beijing in April.
“It was a long and thorough call, discussing trade, military, my visit to China in April (which I am very much looking forward to!), Taiwan, the war between Russia/Ukraine, the current situation with Iran, China’s oil and gas purchases from the US, China’s consideration of buying additional products. Million tons for the current season (they have committed 25 million tons for next season!), aircraft engine supplies, and much more. Subject, all very positive,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president added that the relationship between the United States and China and his personal relationship with President Xi are “extremely good” and that they both realize how important it is to keep it that way.
The friendly phone call coincided with a ministerial meeting held by the Trump administration in Washington, where the United States, along with several European, Asian and African countries, discussed how to rebuild global mineral supply chains without Beijing.
“What we all have before us is an opportunity for self-reliance that we don’t have to rely on anyone but each other for the vital minerals we need to sustain our industries and sustain growth,” the AP reported, quoting vice president JD Vance at the gathering.
What did China say?In a text of the call, the Chinese government said the two leaders discussed a major summit to be held next year. Although it mentioned the possibility of the two leaders meeting, it did not mention Trump’s expected visit to Beijing, the AP reported.
China has made clear it has no intention of backing away from its long-term plan of reunification with Taiwan, saying the self-ruled island will never be allowed to secede from the country.
Tensions in IranThe two world leaders held talks amid rising tensions between the US and Iran following the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests last month.
The US president is now pressing Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program, which the Trump administration says was already set back by US bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day war that Israel launched against Iran in June 2025.
The White House said US special envoy Steve Wittkoff will attend talks with Iranian officials later this week.
Amid tensions between the two countries, Trump announced in early January that his country would impose a 25 percent tax on imports into the United States from countries that do business with Iran.
Xi Jinping talks with Vladimir PutinXi Jinping spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
The call came as the last remaining nuclear arms deal between Russia and the United States, known as the New Start Treaty, is set to expire on Thursday.
The expiration will mark the first time in more than half a century that any cap on the two largest nuclear arsenals will be removed.
