US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping for nearly 90 minutes on Thursday. The call mainly focused on trade. According to Trump, the talk went well. Moreover, both leaders invited each other to visit their countries.

Tensions Prompt the Call

Recently, tensions between the U.S. and China have risen. Both nations accused each other of breaking a trade truce. As a result, Trump brought up rare earth minerals during the call. He emphasized their importance in negotiations.

On Truth Social, he wrote, “There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.”

Next Steps in Talks

Furthermore, Trump confirmed that both sides will meet soon. However, the location remains undecided. He also clarified that they didn’t discuss Russia, Ukraine, or Iran.

He stated, “The conversation was focused almost entirely on trade.” In addition, he expressed hope, saying, “As Presidents of two great nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing.”

First Formal Conversation Since Inauguration

This phone call marked the first official conversation between the two since Trump became president. Previously, they last spoke in January—before Trump’s inauguration. Since then, relations between the two countries have weakened. Although they had agreed to reduce tariffs, both sides now accuse each other of breaking that deal.

Trump Shows Mixed Feelings Toward Xi

Earlier this week, Trump shared mixed opinions about Xi Jinping. On social media, he wrote that Xi is “VERY TOUGH” and “EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.”
At the same time, he added, “I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.”