In a significant diplomatic move aimed at reshaping relations between the world's two largest economies, Chinese President Xi Jinping a lengthy and in-depth phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump , on Wednesday, covering a wide range of contentious issues and shared economic opportunities. These talks come at a critical juncture for strengthening mutual understanding and breaking the deadlock on several outstanding matters.
A Chinese call for mutual respect
Chinese state media quoted President Xi Jinping as saying during the call that resolving differences between Beijing and Washington is not impossible if there is political will based on mutual respect. Xi stated, "By addressing issues one by one and continuing to build mutual trust, we can find the right path for harmony between the two countries.".
The Chinese president added a forward-looking perspective to the relationship, calling for 2026 to be a pivotal year in which China and the United States move forward towards peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation, away from zero-sum policies.
Trump reveals details of "excellent call"
For his part, US President Donald Trump described the call as "excellent," asserting via his Truth Social platform that his personal relationship with the Chinese president was "excellent." Trump revealed details of the topics discussed, which included highly significant geopolitical and economic issues.
Trump explained that the discussion touched on the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in Iran, the contentious issue of Taiwan, as well as defense and trade matters. He also announced a planned visit to China in April, expressing his eagerness for the trip, which is expected to result in the signing of formal agreements.
Huge economic and agricultural deals
On the economic front, a cornerstone of Trump's foreign policy, concrete steps were agreed upon to reduce the trade deficit. The US president also noted a Chinese plan to purchase more energy products (oil and gas) from the United States.
In welcome news for American farmers, Trump confirmed that China has pledged to increase its purchases of American agricultural products, specifically soybeans by 20 million tons this season. This move is of significant economic importance, as China is the world's largest importer of soybeans, and these deals will directly support the American agricultural economy.
The importance of the event and its international context
This call is particularly significant given the current global challenges. Coordination between Washington and Beijing is essential to ensuring the stability of global markets and containing regional conflicts. Analysts suggest that the focus on "confidence-building" and specific trade agreements reflects a willingness on both sides to move beyond ideological differences in favor of tangible, pragmatic gains, potentially paving the way for a new era of stability in international relations in 2026.
