Amid increasing economic and security tensions between the two nations, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday shook hands at the start of their high-stakes summit in Bali, Indonesia with both men vowing to manage differences and avoid conflict, as reported by news agency AFP.
"In our meeting today, I am ready to have a candid and in-depth exchange of views on issues of strategic importance in the China-US relationship. I look forward to working with you to bring China-US relations back on track with healthy and stable growth," said Xi as quoted by ANI.
Relations between the two countries have been strained, which deepened by growing tensions in recent years over a host of issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to the South China Sea, coercive trade practices and U.S. restrictions on Chinese technology.
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The tensions escalated this year after United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, amid threats by China as it considers the self-governing island nation as its own territory. Pelosi’s visit was followed by several military drills by Beijing near Taiwan.
Since Biden became President in January 2021, Xi and Biden have had five phone or video calls and had met in person last during the Obama administration when Biden was the Vice President.
China’s statement came hours after White House said that Biden wants to reopen communication, set “guard rails” in talks with Xi.