ByteDance announced early Saturday that it will proceed with relevant work in accordance with Chinese law, ensuring that TikTok's U.S. operations continue to serve American users. The announcement came after Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone Friday evening.

In the talks, Xi stressed the vital importance of China-U.S. relations. China and the United States are fully capable of helping each other succeed and prospering together for the good of the two countries and the whole world, he said. He added that China's position on the TikTok issue is clear: the Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations conducted in line with market rules, leading to a solution that complies with China's laws and regulations and considers the interests of both sides. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors, Xi said.

Trump said the U.S. would like to have a long-term, big and great relationship with China and that the U.S. will work with China on the economy and trade and support their teams in reaching a proper deal on TikTok through consultation. The American president added that the U.S. will also work with China for world peace.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held discussions with U.S. officials from September 14 to 15 in Madrid. The talks covered key issues like U.S. unilateral tariffs, export controls and the future of TikTok, with TikTok emerging as a central sticking point.

China and the U.S. have reached a basic framework consensus on properly resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation, reducing investment barriers and promoting relevant economic and trade cooperation, according to a statement posted on the official website of China's Ministry of Commerce on Saturday. The ministry further stated that the two countries' leaders talked over the phone on Friday evening to exchange views on issues of both countries' concern.

Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said at a press briefing that the basic consensus includes approaches such as the entrusted operation of TikTok's U.S. user data and content security business, as well as licensing the use of the algorithm and other intellectual property rights.

The Chinese government will examine and approve relevant matters involving TikTok, such as technology exports and licensing of intellectual property, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, Wang added.

Since entering the U.S. market, TikTok has built a large and highly engaged user base, earning widespread popularity among American users. The platform has also contributed positively to U.S. employment and consumer spending.

As the overseas version of China's social media app Douyin, TikTok has operated in the U.S. for years, complying with local laws and regulations. All U.S. user data is stored within the U.S., with backup support provided in Singapore, according to TikTok.

However, starting from the first Trump administration's "forced sale," through the Biden administration pushing Congress to pass legislation to ban TikTok in the U.S. if it is not sold, and continuing into Trump's second term with repeated extensions of the ban coupled with new ownership or acquisition demands, TikTok has faced a series of actions justified on so-called "national security" grounds. This reflects how the U.S. has increasingly politicized and instrumentalized trade issues.

Regarding the TikTok issue, China has always opposed politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of technology and economic-trade matters and will never seek to reach any agreement that compromises principles, company interests, or international fairness and justice, said Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, during a press briefing.

Li noted that through discussions on TikTok-related issues, the two countries further recognized the significance of a stable and sound China-U.S. economic and trade relationship. He added that the two sides will continue to maintain close communication, discuss the details of relevant outcome documents and go through their respective domestic approval procedures.