Both leaders highlighted the importance of U.S.-China relations.
On September 19, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a phone call to discuss various issues of bilateral interest, notably TikTok’s operations in the United States, reports 24brussels.
During the conversation, Xi reaffirmed China’s position on TikTok, stating, “The Chinese government respects the will of companies and welcomes them to conduct business negotiations based on market rules and to reach solutions in line with Chinese laws and regulations that balance interests.” He called for the U.S. to foster an “open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment” for Chinese companies, framing the dialogue as “pragmatic, positive and constructive.”
Xi emphasized the significance of U.S.-China relations, asserting that both nations “can complement each other and prosper together, for their own benefit and that of the world.” He urged that mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are essential for achieving this cooperative vision, warning against unilateral restrictive trade measures that could jeopardize previous agreements.
Trump characterized the U.S.-China relationship as “the most important in the world,” voicing support for ongoing negotiations over TikTok. This call followed the fourth round of talks in Madrid, where both powers outlined a “basic framework” to address the TikTok situation. Earlier this week, both Washington and Beijing signaled a reduction in investment barriers and progress in economic cooperation, facilitating TikTok’s continued operations in the U.S.
In 2024, Congress mandated that to avoid being banned, the U.S. operations of TikTok must be sufficiently independent from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, especially concerning user data protection. The expectation is that ByteDance will retain a minor stake in a newly formed operating company, likely to be led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
Trump and Xi to meet at APEC Summit
On the same day, Trump announced plans to meet with Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea at the end of October. Following that, Trump will visit China in early 2026, while Xi will make a trip to the U.S. “at an appropriate time.”
This upcoming meeting will mark the first in-person engagement between the two leaders since their brief encounter at the G20 summit in Japan in June 2019. A face-to-face dialogue could potentially ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies, particularly as they navigate complex negotiations encompassing trade, semiconductor supply chains, and fentanyl trafficking.
Trump remarked on the recent call, describing it as “very productive,” highlighting agreements made on crucial issues, including a resolution to the TikTok dispute and the broader need to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Source: EFE
