On May 8, 2018, President Xi Jinping held telephone talks at request with President Donald Trump of the United States (US).

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-US relations are at an important stage of development at present. I attach great importance to developing bilateral relations and cherish the sound working relations with Mr. President. It is hoped that both sides will earnestly implement the consensus reached during my meeting with Mr. President in Beijing, and maintain exchanges at high level and across various levels. Both sides should respect each other, pursue mutual benefit and reciprocity, focus on cooperation, as well as manage and control differences, so as to promote the healthy, stable and forward-looking development of bilateral relations. Economic and trade cooperation has always been the ballast stone and the propeller of China-US relations. Last week, China and the US conducted candid, efficient and constructive consultation on economic and trade issues in Beijing. Teams of the two countries should maintain communication and strive to find ways to properly solve existing problems, so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Donald Trump expressed that the US attaches great importance to US-China relations. He looks forward to continuing to maintain close contact with President Xi Jinping. The US stands ready to make joint efforts with China to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, as well as properly handle economic and trade issues, in a bid to promote greater development of US-China relations and benefit the people of the two countries.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation. Xi Jinping reiterated China’s position on the Korean Peninsula issue and stressed that China supports the leaders’ meeting between the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It is hoped that the US and the DPRK will meet each other halfway, establish mutual trust, take phased actions, address respective concerns through meetings and negotiation, and consider the reasonable security concerns of the DPRK so as to jointly promote the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue. China is willing to continue to play an active role in realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the everlasting peace and stability of the region.

Donald Trump expressed that the US attaches great importance to China’s position on the Korean Peninsula issue and appreciates the important role China has played. The US is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China and jointly promote the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue through negotiation and consultation.