The one-China policy, which recognises that Taiwan is part of China, has been seen as the basis of Sino-US relations since the 1970s.

Friday morning’s call was the first between the two leaders since Trump was sworn in as US president in late January.


The call marked a major shift in Sino-US relations, which entered into a period of greater uncertainty after Trump took office.

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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.

Both leaders also agreed to keep close communications, state television reported.

The White House described the call as "extremely cordial” and the two leaders also extended invitations to meet in their respective countries.

Watch: China commends Trump for his letter to President Xi Jinping

Trump’s phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen Relations between Beijing and Washington have been markedly strained sincein December after his election victory.


The Trump-Tsai call was the first between a US president or president-elect and a Taiwanese leader since Beijing and Washington established diplomatic relations in 1979.

Beijing has been irked by Trump’s previous remarks on cross-strait ties and has said bilateral relations would be damaged if the US refused to reaffirm the one-China policy.


Analysts believe the Trump-Xi call, which took place on the eve of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official visit to the White House, was also aimed at easing tensions with Beijing and minimising a potential fallout from Abe’s second face-to-face meeting with Trump.