Trump and Xi hold phone call to discuss trade

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He described relations as being back on track and said negotiations for a trade deal are in "good shape." Trump wrote on social media on Thursday that the call, which lasted around an hour and a half, "resulted in a very positive conclusion."

He added that they resolved the "complexity" surrounding the issue of rare-earth products. Chinese state-run media said the call happened at Trump's request. It added that Xi told him to back down from trade measures that have shaken the economy. The two sides had been raising tariffs on each other before agreeing in May to a 90-day pause. This is the first time during Trump's second term that he and Xi are known to have spoken directly.