Hong Kong (CNN Business) Asian stocks were mixed on Friday, with investors reacting cautiously to signs of a thaw in US-China trade tensions.

A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce told reporters Thursday afternoon that US and Chinese negotiators have discussed rolling back tariffs, saying the rollbacks could happen even before a "phase one" trade deal is signed.

The comments lifted Wall Street to record highs . But the rally didn't carry over to Asia.

Nikkei N225 Shanghai Composite SHCOMP Hang Seng Index HSI Kospi Index KOSPI 0.3%. Japan'swas up 0.3%, while China'sfell 0.1%. Hong Kong'sfell 0.6% and South Korea'sdipped0.3%.

China's remarks raised hopes — yet again — that China and the United States are inching toward a resolution to the 18-month-long trade war.

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