** Australian energy stocks .AXEJ gain ~1% to the highest since March 31

** Sub-index tracks rise in oil prices, recovering from Thursday's drop, on news that the U.S. and China agreed to more trade talks following a phone call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping O/R

** Woodside Energy WDS.AX rises as much as 1.2% to A$22.72, highest since April 2

** Smaller peer Santos STO.AX adds as much as 0.5%

** YTD, AXEJ falls ~6%, while S&P ASX200 .AXJO gains 4.7%

(Reporting by Manasi Dasa in Bengaluru)

((Manasi.DasaSundeep@thomsonreuters.com;))