Xi-Biden call establishes foundation for future engagement: Kuhn

WASHINGTON -- The phone conversation between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden "established a foundation for future engagement" between the world's two largest economies, said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, on Wednesday.

"It is always good when the leaders of the US and China speak, and at this time, in light of deteriorated US-China relations, it is especially good that President Biden and President Xi spoke," Kuhn told Xinhua via email.

"It was their first talk since Biden was inaugurated and, even though significant differences were surfaced, it established a foundation for future engagement," he said.

"When the two national leaders exchange candid views, seeking areas of cooperation as well as addressing mutual concerns, they are putting their personal credibility behind their commitment to stabilize bilateral relations," he said.

"Thus, the Biden-Xi call serves to prevent further deterioration by setting a standard that their respective senior officials -- diplomatic, economic, military -- must maintain," he said.

"While some commentators may see different readouts of the call from (the) US and China sides as indicating that the leaders were 'talking past each other,' I can see it as holding hope that (the) US and China's core interests are not a zero-sum game," said Kuhn.

"The US primary concern is to uphold the international system. China's primary concern is to continue the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These objectives are not incompatible," he said.

"Given leadership vision, diplomatic skill, good will, and perhaps a bit of luck, US-China relations can shift slowly from increasing confrontation to growing cooperation. Let's all give Presidents Biden and Xi some time," he said.