The presidents of the United States and China, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, defended the need to avoid conflict and better manage relations between the two powers during their first face-to-face meeting as heads of state.
After several years of mounting economic and geopolitical tensions, the presidents of the world’s two largest economies shook hands at the start of the meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali, on the eve of the G20 summit.
“We have to find the right path for relations,” said Xi Jinping, who said he was willing to have a “sincere” conversation with Biden on strategic issues.
“The world has reached a crossroads and expects China and the United States to properly manage their relationship,” said the Chinese president.
Biden expressed a desire for the two countries to “manage differences and prevent competition from turning into conflict.”
He also stressed the importance of meeting face to face after several phone or videoconference conversations since arriving at the White House in January 2021. The American president pledged to “keep the lines of communication open”.
