TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In a highly anticipated diplomatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone for about an hour and a half on Thursday. This direct communication occurred amid escalating trade tensions between the two largest world economies, which have been ongoing for several months.

Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that his call with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, had focused entirely on the trade relationship between the nations, which has soured in recent months in a dispute over the export of critical minerals used in an array of industries.