Update | Trump reaffirms commitment to one-China policy in Xi call
White House describes conversation between two leaders as ‘lengthy’ and ‘extremely cordial’
In his first phone call with President Xi Jinping since taking office last month, US President Donald Trump on Friday reaffirmed Washington’s decades-old one-China policy.
The White House described the call as “lengthy” and “extremely cordial” and said Trump reaffirmed the policy at Xi’s request. “The two leaders discussed numerous topics and President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honour our one-China policy,” it said.
China Central Television said Trump told Xi he fully respected the importance of the one- China policy and his administration would adhere to the policy – the basis of Sino-US relations since the 1970s – which recognises that Taiwan is part of China.
Xi was quoted by state television as saying he appreciated Trump’s reiteration of the one- China policy and hoped to work with his US counterpart to promote the steady development of bilateral ties.
Later on Friday, Trump described the phone call with Xi as “very warm,” while he reassured Japan that improved US-Chinese ties were not a threat to Tokyo.