Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold phone call ahead of inauguration

US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation late on Friday, January 17, 2025, according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry.The call comes just days before Trump’s inauguration on Monday, January 20, with the US-China relationship expected to be a key focus of his second term. Tensions between the two major economies remain high, particularly in areas such as trade, technology, and Taiwan, among other issues.

Trump confirmed the call via Truth Social, describing it as “a very good one for both China and the USA.” He mentioned that the conversation covered several topics, including trade, fentanyl, and the popular social media platform TikTok. Trump further stated, “President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and safe!”

The president-elect has previously threatened to impose tariffs of up to 60% on all Chinese imports into the US. However, he has also expressed admiration for his relationship with Xi, suggesting that China could play a role in mediating international crises, such as the war in Ukraine.Xi Jinping, however, will not attend Trump’s inauguration. Instead, China will be represented at the event by Vice President Han Zheng.

In a December interview with Meet the Press, Trump revealed that he had been in regular communication with Xi since securing his election win. He described his relationship with the Chinese leader as “very good” but noted that they had not yet discussed Taiwan during their conversations.

With inputs from agencies