President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not reach a final agreement on TikTok in their Friday call.
The official’s remarks followed duelling readouts from Washington and Beijing that left the status of the negotiations murky.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, said the call was “very productive,” citing progress on trade, fentanyl, the Russia-Ukraine war, and “the approval of the TikTok Deal.”
He added that he and Xi agreed to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea later this year, and that both leaders would plan reciprocal visits in 2026.
“The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC!” Trump wrote.
China’s readout, carried by state-run news agency Xinhua, struck a more cautious tone.
The readout stated that President Jinping urged Donald Trump to avoid restrictive trade measures and not to undermine progress from earlier negotiations aimed at easing tensions between the two economies.
It reiterated Beijing’s position that the TikTok matter should be resolved by “business negotiations on the basis of market rules” in compliance with Chinese law.
It added that the US should ensure “an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.”
While Trump and his administration had signalled earlier in the week that a deal was nearly complete, the divergent statements highlight the remaining gaps as both governments seek to navigate the future of the popular short-video platform.
Friday’s high-stakes call was the first conversation between the leaders since June.
US-China relations under Trump
The conversation is expected to pave the way for a long-anticipated in-person summit later this year, likely on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea from October 31 to November 1.
It would be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January.
Beijing has already extended a formal state visit invitation, with preparations under way that could include large-scale purchase agreements for Boeing aircraft and soybeans, according to earlier reports.
Despite the willingness to steady ties, Washington and Beijing remain at odds over tariffs, technology, the South China Sea, Taiwan, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Separately, a tariff truce between the two countries is set to expire on November 10.
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