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President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call that touched on multiple global and bilateral issues, including trade, military tensions, Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Iran.

Getting into it: The call took place Wednesday morning and was described by Trump as “excellent,” “long and thorough,” and “very positive.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump said thatmany important subjects were discussed, including Trade, Military, the April trip that I will be making to China (which I very much look forward to!).” He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong bilateral relationship, stating, “The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realize how important it is to keep it that way.” According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi echoed this sentiment, noting that he and Trump have “enjoyed sound communication” over the past year and previously held a “successful” meeting in Busan. Xi said that differences could be handled amicably as long as they were approached with “equality and respect.” Below are highlights of the topics discussed.

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Taiwan: Taiwan emerged as a central point in the discussion. The Chinese readout said that “The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations.” Xi stressed that “Taiwan is China’s territory” and warned against US actions that could escalate tensions. Specifically, he urged the United States to “handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence,” following Trump’s recent approval of an $11 billion arms package for the island (described as the largest ever). The call came just weeks after China conducted military drills simulating a blockade around the island.

Iran: Trump briefly noted that the topic of Iran was included in the call, saying they discussed “the current situation with Iran.” Xi made no public comment about Iran in the official Chinese summary.

Russia and Ukraine: Though light on details, Trump confirmed the leaders spoke about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Notably, the Chinese government did not mention Ukraine in its official readout. This omission stood in contrast to the fact that Xi had held a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier the same day, where the two leaders reaffirmed that China-Russia relations “will keep growing with great vitality.”

Trade and Agriculture: Trump celebrated progress on agricultural trade, particularly soybean exports. He said that “China is considering the purchase of additional Agricultural products, including lifting the Soybean count to 20 Million Tons for the current season.” He also noted a commitment from China for “25 Million Tons for next season!”

Energy and Technology: Trump also discussed the sale of energy and technology goods. He mentioned talks on “the purchase of Oil and Gas by China from the United States” and said “airplane engine deliveries” were part of the conversation.

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