Xi, Trump discuss trade deal, relations in phone call

 China Daily Global | 2019-12-21 Saturday

The China-US phase one trade deal, reached on the basis of equality and mutual respect and against the backdrop of an extremely complicated international environment, will benefit both countries and contribute to peace and prosperity of the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday.

In the phone call at the invitation of the US side, Xi also expressed “grave concern” over the recent US “negative statements and actions” on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, which he said have interfered with China’s internal affairs, damaged China’s interests, and are not good for mutual trust and cooperation.

Xi told Trump that China hopes the US side will “conscientiously” implement the important consensuses reached in their multiple meetings and phone conversations, and pay close attention to China’s concerns, thus avoiding disturbing the bilateral relations as well as the important agenda of both countries, according to a statement released by the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi noted that the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has contributed tremendously to the steady development of their bilateral relations and to the global economic growth.

As the modern economy and technology have connected the world, the interests of China and the US will become increasingly interlinked, and there will be some differences in the course of their collaboration, he said.

As long as the two sides adhere to mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation, and always respect the dignity, sovereignty, and core interests of the other country, they will be able to overcome the difficulties in the course of development, and push forward Sino-US economic and trade relations under the new historical conditions for the benefit of two countries and two peoples, Xi said.

Xi also said he is ready to maintain contact with Trump through various means, and exchange views on bilateral relations and international issues, and work together to promote a China-US relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability.

In their phone call, Trump said the phase one trade deal is good for both countries and the rest of the world. It has received positive responses from the markets of both countries and the world, according to the Xinhua report.

The US side is ready to keep close contact and communications with the Chinese side for the deal to be signed earlier and implemented, Trump said.

Trump also said he looks forward to maintaining communications with Xi by various means. He said he believed that the two countries could properly resolve their differences and secure the steady growth of bilateral relations.

The two presidents also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation.

Xi said that all sides should remain committed to the overall direction of finding a political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, meet each other halfway, and maintain the momentum of dialogue and de-escalation, which is in the common interests of all parties.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai tweeted on Friday, “Good communication between the leaders is essential for #China-#US relations.”