Xi has candid, in-depth exchange of views with Biden

Chinese President Xi Jinping had a

video call with U.S. 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-U.S. 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
U.S.-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 U.S. 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 U.S. does not support “Taiwan independence”; and it
has no intention to seek a conflict with China.

The U.S. 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 U.S.-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 U.S. 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
U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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-U.S. relationship, instead of getting out of the
predicament created by the previous U.S. administration, has encountered a
growing number of challenges. What’s worth noting in particular is that some
people in the U.S. 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 U.S. will give due attention
to this issue.”

The direct cause for the current situation in the China-U.S. relationship is
that some people on the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. “What matters is to keep such differences under
control. A steadily growing relationship is in the interest of both sides,”
he added.

The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.

President Biden expounded on the U.S. position, and expressed readiness for
communication with China to prevent the situation from exacerbating.

“China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China
stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in China’s history and
culture,” Xi said.

China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter,
advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms
governing international relations, and adheres to the UN Charter and promotes
the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
These are the major principles that underpin China’s approach to the Ukraine
crisis, Xi said.

Noting that China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian
situation in Ukraine, Xi said China is ready to provide further humanitarian
assistance to Ukraine and other affected countries.

“All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and
negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace,” Xi said, adding
that the U.S. and NATO should also have dialogue with Russia to address the
crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and
Ukraine.

Xi stressed that with the need to fight COVID-19 on the one hand and protect
the economy and people’s livelihood on the other, things are already very
difficult for countries around the world.
“As leaders of major countries, we need to think about how to properly
address global hotspot issues and, more importantly, keep in mind global
stability and the work and life of billions of people,” Xi said.

Sweeping and indiscriminate sanctions would only make the people suffer. If
further escalated, they could trigger serious crises in global economy and
trade, finance, energy, food, and industrial and supply chains, crippling the
already languishing world economy and causing irrevocable losses, Xi added.

“The more complex the situation, the greater the need to remain cool-headed
and rational,” Xi said, adding that whatever the circumstances, there is
always a need for political courage to create space for peace and leave room
for political settlement.

“As two Chinese sayings go, ‘It takes two hands to clap.’ ‘He who tied the
bell to the tiger must take it off.’ It is imperative that the parties
involved demonstrate political will and find a proper settlement in view of
both immediate and long-term needs,” Xi said.

Xi said other parties can and should create conditions to that end. The
pressing priority is to keep the dialogue and negotiation going, avoid
civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and cease hostilities as
soon as possible.

He said an enduring solution would be for major countries to respect each
other, reject the Cold War mentality, refrain from bloc confrontation, and
build step by step a balanced, effective and sustainable security
architecture for the region and for the world.

“China has been doing its best for peace and will continue to play a
constructive role,” Xi said.

Agreeing that the video call is constructive, the two Presidents directed
their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete actions to put China-U.S.
relations back on the track of steady development, and make respective
efforts for the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He and Wang Yi were present at the call.

XINHUA)