Xi calls on Biden to develop ‘healthy’ relationships, ‘coexist in peace’
Beijing, Nov 16 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping asked his United States counterpart Joe Biden to develop “healthy and stable” relations in a virtual meeting they held Tuesday morning.
Xi said “China and the United States must respect each other, coexist in peace, cooperate, properly manage internal affairs and assume their international responsibilities,” according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
According to the source, Xi told Biden he is “prepared” to work with him to “build consensus” and “take steps” to redirect relationships.
The Chinese president said “China and the United States are at a critical stage of their development” and that both countries have the obligation to maintain a “peaceful and stable” international order.
Xi also cited climate change and the fight against the pandemic as priority “global challenges” on which to cooperate.
According to Xi, for the US and China to work hand in hand is “a desire shared by our two peoples and by those around the world and the joint mission of the Chinese and US leaders.”
The virtual meeting comes after a telephone conversation between the two leaders in September, in which Biden and Xi acknowledged their responsibility to ensure that “competition” between their respective countries “does not lead to conflict.”
Relations between both powers deteriorated during the presidency of Donald Trump, with disputes in fields such as commercial, technological, diplomatic, security, on account of human rights and the situation in Taiwan.
In recent meetings between officials from both countries, the US reiterated to China its concern about human rights in the Xinjiang region, in Hong Kong, and about the situation in the South China Sea.
Beijing said it hopes Washington would adopt “rational and pragmatic policies” and not use “sovereignty and security issues” to “interfere in China’s internal affairs.” EFE
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