Xi, Trump call sets positive tone for talks

They express hope for stable progress, agreements that benefit both countries

The weekend telephone conversation between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump ahead of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the US on New Year's Day "sets a positive tone" for the coming year's bilateral relationship, experts said.

The leaders' talk sends an important message, coming as it does after the two countries' working in recent months to solve their trade disputes and pushing forward a coordinated, cooperative and stable China-US relationship amid uncertainties, they added.