Xi, Trump discuss Taiwan, G20 summit over phone call

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump discussed Taiwan and the upcoming G20 summit in Germany this week in a phone call on Monday.

Taiwan issue

President Xi said the China-US relationship has made fruitful results since his meeting with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in April and admitted that bilateral ties have been influenced by some negative factors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front) and his US counterpart Donald Trump (L, front) take a walk in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. /Xinhua Photo‍

"We value the fact that President Trump has reiterated his adherence to the one-China policy, and hope the US can stick to the commitment to it, as well as the three Sino-US joint communiques and cautiously and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, " Xi said.

On Thursday, the US State Department approved a 1.4-billion-US dollar arms sale to Taiwan, the first such deal with the Chinese region since Trump took office. China expressed strong opposition and urged the US to stop any weapons deal with Taiwan.

Trump, for his part, reaffirmed in the call that the US government did not change its stance on the one-China policy. The US president said the two countries enjoy broad common interests and can benefit from each other.

G20 summit in Germany

The two leaders also exchanged their views on the upcoming 12th G20 summit, which will take place in Germany's Hamburg on July 7-8.

Xi pointed out the world economy faces tough challenges and China and the US, together with other members of the group, should make joint efforts to enhance the function of the G20, so as to push the summit to generate more results to boost the world economy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) members, some guest countries and international organizations pose for a group photo ahead of the opening ceremony of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on September 4, 2016. /Xinhua Photo

Trump said this year's summit had a wide range of topics for discussion and expected to have a deep exchange of views on major issues of common concern with Xi and other leaders.

The two leaders also discussed issues related with the DPRK and reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

Trump also called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the same day, and the two reiterated their commitment to increase pressure on the DPRK.

"They reaffirmed that the United States-Japan Alliance stands ready to defend and respond to any threat or action taken by North Korea," the White House said in a statement.

Trump's separate conversations with the two leaders were followed by his talks with South Korea's new president, Moon Jae-in, last week, in which the US leader called on Asian powers to implement sanctions and demand the DPRK "choose a better path and do it quickly".