Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump held a phone call on Friday, described by Trump as “a very good one for both China and the U.S.A.” The two leaders discussed trade, fentanyl, TikTok, and other pressing issues, with Trump expressing optimism about making the world “more peaceful and safe.”
While Chinese state media provided limited details, Trump posted on Truth Social about their shared commitment to global stability. Notably, the call comes amid heightened tensions over tariffs, the opioid crisis, and the pending removal of TikTok from app stores.
Trump also invited Xi to his inauguration on Monday, but China will instead send Vice President Han Zheng.
Meanwhile, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of cooperation and managing differences with the new U.S. administration. However, tensions are expected to rise as Trump has appointed critics of China, such as Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, signaling a potentially confrontational stance.
In a related matter, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a divest-or-ban law targeting China-owned TikTok, leaving the video app potentially facing a blackout for its 170 million U.S. users on Sunday.