President Donald Trump has finally reached out to Chinese President Xi Jinping - via a letter.
Trump wished "the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and prosperous Year of the Rooster" in Wednesday's letter, was notable for its timing.
The new president has spoken by telephone to more than a dozen foreign leaders, but this was his first direct outreach to Xi, leader of the world's most populous nation and its second-largest economy.
While no reason has been given for the delay, relations between the world's two largest trading partners have been strained, with Trump unleashing a stream of anti-China remarks on trade, security and territorial ambition on the campaign trail and since becoming president.
The muted language in Wednesday's letter stood in sharp contrast to the slew of anti-China remarks from Trump.
In it, Trump wrote that that he looked forward to working with Xi to "develop a constructive relationship that benefits both the United States and China," according to a statement released by the White House.
Officially, China's Foreign Ministry expressed "thanks" for the missive, and spokesman Lu Kang dismissed the idea that it was a poor substitute for a call or even a snub.
"The two countries share wide common interests, and cooperation is the only correct path," he told reporters during a daily government briefing Thursday.
Beijing may be marking boundaries, too - China would not want to risk the embarrassment of an awkward call.
Trump's conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was described as "blunt" by a senior White House official. The Associated Press also reported that Trump told Mexicans President that he would send troops to deal with "bad hombres" on the border during another phone call.
An awareness of Asian regional rivalries could also play into why Trump extended this gesture to China now.
President Donald Trump has finally reached out to Chinese President Xi Jinping - via a letter.
