President Donald Trump said on November 24, 2025, that he had a “very good” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing a wide-ranging discussion that covered the war in Ukraine, fentanyl trafficking, and U.S. agricultural exports.
In a social media post, Trump said the call followed their late October meeting in South Korea and that the two sides had made progress keeping recent agreements “current and accurate.” He added that Xi invited him to visit Beijing in April 2026, which he accepted, and that he extended a reciprocal state visit invitation for later in the year.
Beijing confirmed the call and highlighted topics that included overall U.S.–China relations, the situation in Ukraine, and Taiwan. China’s readout emphasized its longstanding position on the Taiwan issue and framed the discussion as part of efforts to stabilize ties after the October summit. The White House acknowledged the conversation and did not publish further details.
What each side emphasized
Trump’s post said the leaders talked about Ukraine and Russia, fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products. He said the administration has done an important deal for American farmers and that relations with China are “extremely strong.” He also wrote that both sides agreed to communicate often, signaling intent to keep a direct channel open as officials work through technical follow-ups from the Busan meeting.
China’s public summary focused on first principles. According to state media and the foreign ministry, Xi underscored that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.
That phrasing, which Beijing has used in previous high-level contacts, places the Taiwan question in the context of World War II outcomes and national sovereignty. The Chinese side also referenced global issues, including the situation in Ukraine, and stressed the importance of avoiding confrontation while expanding areas of cooperation.
A follow-up to Busan
The call came less than a month after Trump and Xi met in Busan, South Korea, where the two governments outlined steps aimed at cooling tensions.
Reporting from that summit described commitments related to trade, rare earths, fentanyl-related chemicals, and agriculture, along with a pause in escalatory tariff measures. In the weeks since, both capitals have signaled that working groups were aligning details and timelines.
Trump’s description of a deal for farmers dovetails with those earlier accounts. U.S. soybean sales are a traditional bellwether for agricultural cooperation with China, and any improvement there would be notable for farm states. Neither side released specifics on volumes or schedules on Monday, and it was not immediately clear how new purchases or tariff adjustments would be sequenced against other agenda items.
Taiwan and regional tension
Beijing’s emphasis on Taiwan reflects a persistent stress point in the relationship. Xi’s remark about the post-war order fits with China’s legal and historical framing that the island is part of its territory. Taipei rejects that claim and has resisted pressure to enter talks on Beijing’s terms.
The issue has drawn in U.S. allies, including Japan, which in recent weeks warned that its forces could respond if China tried to take Taiwan by force. That warning added urgency to regional diplomacy and to Washington’s consultations with partners.
The Monday call did not yield any public shift in positions on Taiwan. Trump’s summary did not mention the island, while the Chinese readout placed it near the center of the conversation. The difference in emphasis has been common in past contacts and highlights how carefully both sides manage public messages when the topic is politically sensitive at home.
