1 phone call, 2 hours of conversation and… How did Donald Trump decide to go to China, when will he meet Xi Jinping?

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Friday. The two leaders spoke for nearly two hours. This was the first conversation between the two leaders in three months, which somewhat de-escalated tensions between the two countries. Trump described the phone call as “extremely positive.” Progress was made on issues such as trade, fentanyl trafficking, the Ukraine war, and TikTok’s approval to operate in the US. Trump made the disclosure in a post on Truth Social after the conversation. He stated that the two leaders would meet at the APEC summit in South Korea. Trump also announced his visit to China in early 2026, and also stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping would also visit the US around the same time.

Trump praised Xi Jinping’s approval of the TikTok deal. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Xi Jinping had approved the TikTok deal, although a formal signing is still pending. This deal will allow TikTok to operate in the US, provided national security concerns are addressed. Last year, the US Congress passed a law requiring the sale of TikTok’s US branch to American owners, otherwise it could be shut down by January 2025. This week, Trump extended the deadline for the sale of TikTok for the fourth time, now to December 16th.

China silent on TikTok deal

Trump said that the deal is still pending final signatures, but is moving in the right direction. However, a statement issued by China did not mention any formal agreement on TikTok. The Chinese government said in the statement that it respects TikTok’s wishes and demanded non-discrimination against Chinese companies. Some US lawmakers are concerned that China could spy on Americans or conduct propaganda through TikTok, although China has denied these allegations. Trump stated that TikTok’s algorithm will be under strict US control and that an announcement regarding ownership issues will be made soon.

Trump stated that the two-hour call also discussed the need to end the Ukraine-Russia war. He said that Xi Jinping also wants to end this war soon. Furthermore, the two leaders had positive discussions on issues such as trade and fentanyl trafficking. Trump recently imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese exports, prompting China to increase tariffs in response. However, limited agreements between the two countries in recent months have somewhat defused this tariff war.