"This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors, too," incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented.
Trump has previously described Xi as a friend and an important global partner. During a press conference earlier this month at Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasized the potential for collaboration between the two nations.
"China and the United States can, together, solve all of the problems in the world, if you think about it. So it's very important. He was a friend of mine," Trump said. "We spent hours and hours talking, and he is an amazing guy."
However, Xi's remarks during his address also included a stark message directed at Taiwan, signaling Beijing's firm stance on reunification.