The long-awaited phone call between China's Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump has taken place. Despite optimistic statements from both Washington and Beijing, the conversation did not lead to a real normalization of relations between the two countries, with political and economic tensions persisting.
One key expectation was to agree on the timing of Trump's visit to China. This was seen as a chance to resolve complex economic issues, but the visit is now only possible in early 2026, if at all. The next likely bilateral meeting may be held on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN summit, where Trump could also meet Russian President Putin.
During the conversation, Xi and Trump discussed the Russia–Ukraine war. However, it remains unclear whether the US and China have a joint position on ending the conflict.
Trump emphasized that many complex issues were discussed, including the possible agreement on the sale of TikTok, which is of major importance to him in US domestic politics.
China, for its part, stressed the inadmissibility of unilateral actions in international trade. The main problem – tariffs imposed by Washington on Chinese goods and China's countermeasures – remains unresolved. There have been no significant breakthroughs so far.
The leaders also touched on China's purchase of Russian energy resources and the broader role of China in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US has so far failed to influence China's trade policy or its ties with Russia. Many important issues remain unanswered, and a visit by Xi to the US is still in doubt.
