Taiwan asserts close communication with US after Trump-Xi call

Taiwan has responded to a phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping with a statement highlighting its own close communication with Washington.

Taiwan's core interest is to ensure its freedom and democracy, active participation in the international community and regional peace and stability, while maintaining positive relations with the US as well as across the Formosa Strait, said a Presidential Office statement on Friday.

This was in response to the White House statement on the Trump-Xi phone call, which said "President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honour our 'one China' policy", Efe news reported.

Taiwan and the US have very close ties and Taipei "is fully aware of the priority that the US assigns to East Asia peace and stability", it stated.

The statement added that Taipei will continue to strengthen its cooperation with the US in order to jointly further the peace, stability and welfare of the region.

The island's Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for ties with China, also released a statement underlining the importance the island attaches to balanced development of cross-strait ties and to firmly safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Taiwan also hoped Washington will continue its support for the island and called on China to maintain a positive attitude and communication to resolve mutual differences.

--IANS

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