China’s leader Xi Jinping has called Taiwan “the most important issue” in China-US relations during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

Xi told Trump to be “prudent” when supplying weapons to the island, state media report, adding that he attached “great importance” to ties with Washington and hoped both sides would find ways to resolve their differences.

The call followed a flurry of visits by Western leaders, including the UK’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to China in recent months, hoping to reset relations with the world’s second-largest economy.

Trump himself is due to visit China in April, a trip he said he “very much” looked forward to.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te told reporters relations with the US remained “rock solid” and that “all ongoing cooperation projects are continuing”

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