Trump-Xi Held Call on TikTok, Seoul Meeting
By Reuters | 19 Sep, 2025

The call appeared to focus on seeking agreement to have US interests purchase TikTok's US operations but ended without a firm commitment from the Chinese side.

China and U.S. flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo

U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping made progress on a TikTok agreement and pledged to meet face-to-face in just over a month in South Korea.

The two sides appeared to lower tensions during the first call in three months between the leaders of the two superpowers, but it was not immediately clear if the call had yielded the expected firm agreement over the fate of the popular short-video app.

Trump did say the leaders agreed to talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum that starts on October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea, and for a potential later visit to China by Trump. Reuters previously reported that the two sides were planning such a meeting.

"We made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal," Trump wrote on social media.

"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.

But China's statement made no reference to a final agreement.

"On TikTok, Xi said China's position is clear: the Chinese government respects the will of firms and welcomes companies to conduct business negotiations on the basis of market rules to reach a solution consistent with Chinese laws and regulations while balancing interests," according to the meeting summary in Xinhua.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Xiuhao Chen and Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)