BEIJING – Chinese language President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Joe Biden mentioned on easy methods to handle their international locations’ rising competitors to keep away from a battle, saying it’s their duty because the world’s two main powers to return to the desk.
The 2 males, who’ve identified one another for years, greeted one another with a wave as their digital assembly started at 8.45am on Tuesday (Nov 16) Beijing time.
The assembly ended much less at 12.24pm, in accordance with Chinese language state media.
Accompanying them had been senior officers from each administrations, together with prime Chinese language diplomat Yang Jiechi; international minister Wang Yi; vice-premier Liu He; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen; and Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Mr Biden began first by saying it was the duty of either side to make sure that the competitors between the 2 international locations “doesn’t veer into battle, whether or not meant or unintended”, in accordance with a readout supplied by the White Home.
“Simply easy, simple competitors,” he mentioned.
He known as for some “commonsense guardrails”, and for the 2 international locations to be “clear and sincere the place we disagree, and work collectively the place our pursuits intersect”, citing points like local weather change.
The 2 international locations issued a joint declaration on the current COP26 local weather summit in Glasgow, pledging to step up cooperation in reducing emissions.
Bilateral relations have been within the doldrums as the 2 giants cross swords over commerce, know-how, the Covid-19 outbreak, human rights points, the South China Sea and Taiwan.
In his opening remarks, Mr Xi described the 2 international locations as being “at vital phases of improvement” and want to extend communication and cooperation because the world’s two largest economies and everlasting members of the United Nations Safety Council.
Saying he was pleased to see “an previous pal”, Mr Xi known as for mutual respect and mentioned he welcomed working with Mr Biden.
“We must always every run our home affairs properly and, on the identical time, shoulder our share of worldwide duties and work collectively to advance the noble reason for world peace and improvement,” he mentioned, based mostly on a readout issued by the Chinese language international ministry.
A display reveals Chinese language President Xi Jinping attending a digital assembly with US President Joe Biden at a restaurant in Beijing on Nov 16, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
Mr Antony Blinken listens as Mr Joe Biden and Mr Xi Jinping take part in a digital summit within the Roosevelt Room of the White Home in Washington on Nov 15, 2021. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
The 2 leaders are anticipated to lift key issues. For the US, Mr Biden will wish to talk about China’s commerce practices which he considers unfair, human rights points and China’s rising army strain within the Taiwan Strait. He may additionally carry up issues over cybersecurity and China’s build-up of nuclear weapons.
Mr Xi can be more likely to prioritise Taiwan within the dialogue and can wish to search an assurance from Mr Biden that he’ll abide by the US’ longstanding one-China coverage, say analysts.
The Chinese language may additionally push for extra common dialogue on the working stage, mentioned Affiliate Professor Hoo Tiang Boon of the S. Rajaratnam College of Worldwide Research.
“The Individuals have highlighted that they don’t like unproductive talks or talks that are grand on pomp and ceremony about obtain little or no,” mentioned Prof Hoo, who research US-China relations.
“However I believe on the working stage, they recognize that some type of engagement is certainly obligatory. And that type of engagement needs to be away from media consideration however truly may yield extra substantive outcomes.”