Xi said he hoped for a "good start" to relations with Trump, who in turn said, "I expect we will solve many problems together, and we will do it by starting right away."
During the election campaign, Trump threatened China and other US trading partners with huge tariffs, but also said he was open to talks with Xi.
The threat of a 10 percent duty on Chinese products, on top of existing tariffs dating back to Trump's first term, was prompted by accusations that China allows the chemical components of fentanyl to flow into Mexico and into America, where the drug causes 70,000 overdose deaths a year.
"We discussed balancing trade, fentanyl, TikTok and many other topics. President Xi and I will do everything we can to make the World more peaceful and safer!" said Trump on his social media platform after their conversation.
Last year, the US Congress passed a law forcing TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the platform or shut it down by Sunday (January 19) over national security concerns, but Trump promised to save TikTok in his campaign speeches and has been considering ways to delay the ban.
The law was in response to a widespread view in Washington that the hugely popular app could be used by China for espionage or propaganda. | BGNES
