Trump speaks with Xi amid stalled talks between the US and China over tariffs

Mr Trump had declared one day earlier that it was difficult to reach a deal with Mr Xi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (Pavel Bednyakov/AP)

US president Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday at a time when stalled tariff negotiations between their two countries have impacted global trade.

The conversation was reported by Xinhua, a Chinese state media outlet. The White House did not immediately comment.