Trump agrees to respect One-China policy in call with Xi Jinping

World Today

flags of China and the USA

U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed the U.S. commitment to the One-China policy in a telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday evening.

A White House press release reads:

 

“President Donald J. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China had a lengthy telephone conversation on Thursday evening. The two leaders discussed numerous topics and President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our “one China” policy. Representatives of the United States and China will engage in discussions and negotiations on various issues of mutual interest. The phone call between President Trump and President Xi was extremely cordial, and both leaders extended best wishes to the people of each other’s countries. They also extended invitations to meet in their respective countries. President Trump and President Xi look forward to further talks with very successful outcomes.”

 

The phone call, the first between the two leaders since Trump took office, comes after he repeatedly attacked Beijing in recent months over trade and the South China Sea. Trump had also questioned Washington’s long-standing One-China policy.

CGTN’s Nathan King reports.

In Thursday’s call, Trump said he fully understands the high significance of the U.S. government’s pursuit of the One-China policy, adding that the U.S. government adheres to the One-China policy. The White House statement said Trump agreed to honor the U.S.’s One-China policy at Xi’s request.

Xi said he appreciated Trump’s stressing that the U.S. government adheres to the one-China policy and said the policy is the political basis of China-U.S. relations.

The phone conversation was also described as lengthy and extremely cordial, and both leaders “discussed numerous topics.”

The call came shortly after Trump sent a letter to Xi, wishing the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and a prosperous Year of the Rooster.

Earlier, Chinese media had made much of the fact that Trump had not sent Lunar New Year wishes to the Chinese people, unlike his predecessors.

Xi said he greatly appreciated Trump’s willingness to expand China-U.S. cooperation and develop a constructive bilateral relationship that will benefit the two countries and the international community.

China and the United States have maintained close communication on issues of common concern since Trump’s inauguration, Xi noted, saying that the necessity and urgency of strengthening China-U.S. cooperation is further increased in the face of the current complicated international situation and various challenges.

The development of China and the United States can complement each other and promote each other, and the two countries are totally capable of becoming good cooperative partners, said the Chinese president.

Xi said that building a sound China-U.S. relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and it is also the responsibility China and the United States need to assume as the world’s major countries.

China is committed to coexisting peacefully with other countries in the world, as well as conducting win-win cooperation with them, Xi said.

China is also ready to boost mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States in various fields such as trade and economy, investment, science and technology, energy, culture and infrastructure, the Chinese president said.

China will strengthen coordination and communication with the United States in international and regional affairs to jointly safeguard world peace and stability, Xi added.

Trump said he was glad to talk over the phone with Xi, adding that it is very important for both countries to maintain high-level communication.

Trump expressed his satisfaction with the close communication the two sides have maintained since he took office and admiration toward the Chinese people for the historic accomplishment they have achieved in developing their country.

Developing U.S.-China ties has won wide support from the U.S. people, Trump said, adding that the two countries, as cooperative partners, can make joint efforts to help the bilateral relationship reach an unprecedented level.

The United States is committed to enhancing win-win cooperation with China in economy, trade, investment and international affairs, Trump said.

China will work with the United States to enhance communication and cooperation so that bilateral ties can advance in a sound and stable manner and yield more fruits to benefit the two peoples and people of all countries in the world, Xi said.

The two leaders also agreed to maintain close contacts to exchange opinions on issues of common concern in a timely manner. Both of them expressed their eagerness to hold a meeting at an early date.

Concerns over U.S.-China relations have been high since Trump took office. During his election campaign, he repeatedly attacked China, accusing it of stealing U.S. jobs. A phone call with Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen following his election also appeared to question the One-China policy. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China, and the U.S. has respected this formula since it established diplomatic relations with China in 1979.

US President Trump discusses his recent call with Xi


Sourabh Gupta discusses Wang Yi’s Australia visit and One China Policy

For more on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s Australia visit and One China policy, CGTN’s Elaine Reyes spoke to Sourabh Gupta, senior Asia-Pacific international relations policy specialist with Institute for China-AmericanSstudies.


Story by CGTN and Xinhua News.