U.S. President Donald Trump held an “excellent” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, (4 February), to discuss trade, energy, Taiwan, Iran, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, ahead of Trump’s planned visit to Beijing in April.
The call came hours after Xi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral ties amid a “turbulent” international environment.
Trump described his discussion with Xi as “very positive” and emphasised that both leaders valued maintaining strong personal and diplomatic relations.
During the call, Trump highlighted commercial ties between the U.S. and China, including energy purchases, agricultural products, and aircraft deliveries. He said China had agreed to increase its purchase of U.S. soybeans from 12 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes in the current season, with a commitment to 25 million tonnes next season.
Both sides did not comment on ongoing tensions over rare earth minerals or China’s role in Venezuela.
Xi, meanwhile, stressed that Taiwan remains the most important issue in China–U.S. relations, urging the U.S. to handle arms sales to the self-governing island with “great prudence” and reaffirming China’s position that Taiwan is part of its territory.
The U.S. approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, one of its largest ever, to strengthen the island’s defences.
Trump also raised the situation in Iran, which has been experiencing unrest and a harsh crackdown on protestors, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling for Beijing’s cooperation in addressing these global flashpoints.
The Chinese readout framed the discussion in measured terms, noting that both sides had concerns but solutions could be found if approached with “reciprocity.”
Analysts expect Trump and Xi to finalise agreements on Boeing aircraft deliveries and other commercial deals during the April visit, potentially easing some tariffs on Chinese exports.
Trump has previously mentioned his personal relationship with Xi as a tool to advance U.S. strategic and economic interests, even as tensions continue over Taiwan, trade disputes, and competing geopolitical ambitions.
The World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku has placed a strong emphasis on strengthening cooperation between the pub...
Chinese President Xi Jinping&...
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump...
A major international conference on “The Role of Youth in Urban Development during Decolonisation Processes” has opened in Baku,...
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the...
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised bilateral ties during talks in Beijing on Wednesday, before Putin departed China later in the day.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Türkiye-EU relations and rising Middle East tensions during a phone call on Tuesday.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing, has highlighted intensifying great-power signalling amid a rapidly fragmenting global order.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned on Tuesday (19 May) that Moscow could retaliate against Baltic states if Ukraine launches military drones from that region. Latvia, the United States and Ukraine responded strongly during a UN Security Council meeting.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump administration official. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist leadership.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Türkiye-EU relations and rising Middle East tensions during a phone call on Tuesday.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing, has highlighted intensifying great-power signalling amid a rapidly fragmenting global order.
The European Union has moved closer to implementing tariff cuts under last year’s U.S. trade agreement after negotiators agreed on a provisional legislative text.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment