Xi and Biden talk about respecting the United States and China and how not to turn competition into conflict during the virtual summit | Globalism

“It is important that the two countries communicate transparently and honestly, and that they respect international rules,” Biden said.

For his part, Chinese President Biden described Biden as an “old friend.” He stated that the two parties should “respect each other, coexist peacefully, and seek win-win cooperation,” according to the Chinese press, which said the first words of the phone call, which began at 9 pm GMT and is expected to last for hours. . He added that he “hopes to work with the US president to promote positive development.”

With the exception of the chiefs and interpreters, it has not been determined exactly who is involved.

The virtual meeting comes after Biden criticized Xi Jinping’s absence from major international meetings and at a time when the Chinese president is tightening his grip on the system.

The two presidents have spoken at length by phone twice since Biden’s inauguration in January. Since Xi has refused to travel abroad due to the epidemic, an online meeting has been selected for face-to-face talks.

Biden’s advisers present the summit as an opportunity to try to avoid escalating tensions, particularly over Taiwan, an independent democracy that China considers a restive province.

Relations between the two powers collapsed during the presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021), who launched a trade war against China while criticizing Beijing over the Covid pandemic.

Biden has reshaped the confrontation more broadly into a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, and while his tone has been more measured than Trump’s, the relationship between Washington and Beijing remains strained over issues such as Taiwan, human rights and trade.

Taiwan’s fate is currently generating the most tension, given the intensification of Chinese military activities with a record number of incursions into the island’s air defense zone.

The tension was evident over the weekend, when Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had a heated conversation.

Blinken expressed his “concern over Beijing’s continued military, diplomatic and economic pressure” on Taipei, while Wang warned against any US action that could be interpreted as support for “Taiwan independence.”

Beijing on Monday put the responsibility for improving relations on Biden’s shoulders.

“We hope the United States will work in the same direction as China for a good understanding,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

However, the US official said Biden would “be very direct and frank on issues that concern us,” referring to China’s “compulsive and provocative behavior toward Taiwan” as well as what Washington sees as human rights abuses and practices. Aggressive trade by China.

But he stressed that there is scope for cooperation in various areas, such as climate change.

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