Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and the United States to gradually build mutual trust and find the right way to get along, during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
Xi said that over the past year he and President Trump had good communications and a successful meeting in Busan that set the direction and course for Sino-US relations. This, he said, was welcomed by the people of both countries and the wider international community.
President Xi expressed his hope that he and President Trump will steer the „huge ship“ of Sino-US relations steadily forward despite the storms and achieve more significant and positive results.
„Just as the United States has its concerns, China has its concerns,“ Xi remarked, adding that China always means what it says and accompanies its words with actions and results.
He said if both countries act in the same direction in a spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, they can find solutions to satisfy each other's concerns.
Xi also recalled that both countries have important events on their agendas this year - China will launch its 15th Five-Year Plan and the US will celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence.
He added that China will host the APEC economic leaders' meeting and the US will chair the G20 Summit.
President Xi called on the two sides to strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand practical cooperation. „It is always right to do a good thing, even if it is small, and always wrong to do a bad thing, even if it is small.“ he said.
He also called for 2026 to be a year when the two great countries move towards mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
On the issue of Taiwan, the Chinese President stressed that it is the most important issue in Sino-US relations and recalled that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, that China must protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never allow Taiwan to be separated.
He urged the US side to be cautious in selling arms to Taiwan.
President Trump, on the other hand, said that both the United States and China are great countries and the relationship between them is by far the most important in the world.
Trump mentioned that he has a very good relationship with President Xi and great respect for his person. „Under our leadership, the US and China are doing well on the economy and trade. I want China to succeed.“
He added that the United States wants to work with China to make further progress in bilateral relations, understands China's position on the Taiwan issue, and wants the two sides to continue dialogue and keep relations in good shape during his presidency.