Xi has candid, in-depth exchange of views with Biden
-- The two Presidents agreed that the video call is constructive.
-- The two Presidents directed their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete actions to put China-US relations back on the track of steady development.
-- The two sides are ready to make respective efforts for the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video call with US President Joe Biden at the request of the latter on Friday. The two Presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations, the situation in Ukraine, and other issues of mutual interest.
President Biden said that 50 years ago, the United States and China made the important choice of issuing the Shanghai Communique. Fifty years on, the US-China relationship has once again come to a critical time. How this relationship develops will shape the world in the 21st century.
He reiterated that the US does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China's system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the US does not support "Taiwan independence"; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.
The US is ready to have candid dialogue and closer cooperation with China, stay committed to the one-China policy, and effectively manage competition and disagreements to ensure the steady growth of the relationship, said President Biden.
He also expressed readiness to stay in close touch with President Xi to set the direction for the US-China relationship.
Noting the international landscape has experienced new major developments since their first virtual meeting last November, Xi said the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges, and the world is neither tranquil nor stable.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world's two leading economies, China and the US must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Xi said.
Xi stressed that he and President Biden share the view that China and the US need to respect each other, coexist in peace and avoid confrontation, and that the two sides should increase communication and dialogue at all levels and in all fields.
President Biden has just reiterated that the US does not seek to have a new Cold War with China, to change China's system, or to revitalize alliances against China, and that the US does not support "Taiwan independence" or intend to seek a conflict with China, Xi said. "I take these remarks very seriously."
Xi pointed out the China-US relationship, instead of getting out of the predicament created by the previous US administration, has encountered a growing number of challenges. What's worth noting in particular is that some people in the US have sent a wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" forces, Xi said, adding "this is very dangerous."
Mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on the bilateral ties, said Xi. "China hopes that the US will give due attention to this issue."
The direct cause for the current situation in the China-US relationship is that some people on the US side have not followed through on the important common understanding reached by the two Presidents and have not acted on President Biden's positive statements. The US has misperceived and miscalculated China's strategic intention, Xi said.
Xi underscored that there have been and will continue to be differences between China and the US. "What matters is to keep such differences under control. A steadily growing relationship is in the interest of both sides," he added.
