US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had made progress on a possible TikTok agreement during their first phone call in three months. The two leaders also agreed to meet face-to-face in South Korea in six weeks to discuss trade, the flow of illicit drugs, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump confirmed that both sides will hold further talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit beginning October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea. He also announced plans to visit China early next year, with Xi expected to visit the United States later.
“We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal,” Trump wrote on social media. He added that the phone call was “a very good one” and that both leaders looked forward to their meeting at APEC.
The status of TikTok remains a key issue. US lawmakers had ordered the app to be banned for American users by January 2025 unless its Chinese owner ByteDance sold its US operations. While Trump said progress was made, details of the agreement were not shared, and China’s statement did not directly mention TikTok.
According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, Xi said Beijing welcomes companies to negotiate solutions within the framework of market rules and Chinese laws. Analysts believe China is taking its time while the US is seeking a quick resolution and a public win through the TikTok deal.
Trump has repeatedly defended TikTok in recent weeks, even acknowledging that the platform played a role in boosting his political communication with young voters. He has delayed enforcing the TikTok ban while negotiations continue.
The upcoming Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea will be closely watched, as it could set the tone for broader US-China relations in 2025, covering technology, trade, and security issues.
