Xi and Trump: A Diplomatic Exchange in Global Politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of Trump's upcoming visit to China. The call followed a virtual meeting between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Previous trade tensions have eased after earlier diplomatic engagements.

Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The dialogue occurred ahead of Trump's anticipated visit to China this April, and soon after Xi's virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The White House has not offered any comments on the matter, while Chinese state media has kept details of the call under wraps. The Kremlin indicated it was informed about the Xi-Trump conversation in advance, acknowledging Putin's acceptance of an earlier invitation from Xi for a visit within the year's first half.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed awareness of the scheduled call. The last conversation between Xi and Trump took place in November, post which Trump championed the strong relations with China. Recent months have seen a stabilization in the previously tense trade relations between Washington and Beijing, following an October meeting in South Korea where a trade truce was reached.