Donald Trump had ‘very good talk’ with Xi Jinping on US-China trade war deal, Hong Kong and North Korea
- Formal signing of phase one agreement being arranged, US President says in tweet announcing phone call between leaders
- Xi told Trump that China is deeply concerned about ‘negative words and deeds’ of US on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan and Tibet
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a “very good talk” by phone on Friday, the first known direct communication since the two sides signed a “phase one” trade deal aimed at de-escalating the trade war.
The call, which covered such contentious issues as trade, Hong Kong and North Korea, came as each leader grappled with domestic political calculations.
The news, as usual, came out on in a Twitter post as Trump wrote on Friday that he “Had a very good talk with President Xi of China concerning our giant Trade Deal.”
“China has already started large scale purchase of agricultural product & more. Formal signing being arranged. Also talked about North Korea, where we are working with China, & Hong Kong (progress!)." He did not elaborate.
A White House official confirmed that the two leaders spoke on Friday morning, while Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television said the phone call was at Trump’s request.
China’s Xinhua state news agency added on Saturday that during the call Xi told Trump that China is deeply concerned about “negative words and actions” by the US on issues relating to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet.
