(Washington) Joe Biden and Xi Jinping began a highly anticipated virtual summit on Monday, with the US president stressing the need for “safeguards” to avoid “conflict” between the two countries and the Chinese president pleading for better “communication” .
Joe Biden assured that “the competition between the two countries should not turn into a conflict, whether intentional or not”, during this exchange which takes place as disputes accumulate between Washington and Beijing, by the way Taiwan, but also trade and human rights.
“China and the United States must improve their communication and cooperation,” said Xi Jinping, who said he was happy to see “his old friend” for the first time through screens, while their two previous exchanges had been made over the phone.
“I am ready to work with you,” continued the Chinese president.
The conversation between the two leaders, which began at 7:45 p.m. Washington time could last “a few hours,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said earlier today.
But in Washington as in Beijing, expectations are tempered on this discussion, which should not lead to “concrete results”, warned the White House.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday that the two leaders “will have a frank, deep and comprehensive exchange of views” on their bilateral ties, which stand at “a critical crossroads.”
Joe Biden would like to see in flesh and blood the Chinese president, whom he boasts of having already frequented extensively when he was vice-president of Barack Obama.
But he must be satisfied with a virtual meeting with Xi Jinping, who has not left China for nearly two years, citing health reasons.
If after the coming to power of Joe Biden, the tone has changed compared to the outbursts of the Trump era, the relationship between Washington and Beijing remains extremely tense.
Taiwan
The fate of Taiwan is currently the focus of tension.
Chinese state daily Global Times In an editorial on Monday, “In order to reduce the risk of a strategic collision between China and the United States, the latter must step back from the Taiwan issue and show restraint. ”
A senior White House official denounced the “coercive and provocative behavior” of China towards Taiwan as one of the subjects of litigation, and stressed that Joe Biden would not fail to address this subject in a “direct and frank” manner. .
Just as he will evoke, according to this source, economic practices deemed unfair by China, and human rights violations of which the United States accuses Beijing.
Washington stresses, however, that the two great powers could cooperate in certain areas, such as the fight against climate change.
This virtual meeting takes place at a time when Xi Jinping continues to strengthen his grip on the regime.
The Chinese Communist Party passed a text last week calling on “the entire Party, army and people to unite more closely around the Central Committee of which Xi Jinping forms the heart.”
Jen Psaki felt that Joe Biden, despite his plummeting popularity rating, arrived “in a strong position” at his meeting with Xi Jinping, because the United States will renovate its economy and have undertaken to strengthen its international alliances .
The US president, faced with an extremely divided political landscape, and a pandemic that he is struggling to eradicate, mentioned China on Monday by promulgating a gigantic infrastructure plan, supposed to allow America to “win the competition” of XXIe century.
At the end of his speech, the US President repeated one of his favorite phrases: “It’s never, never a good idea to bet against the American people. ”