Chinese President Xi Jinping has held talks with his US counterpart, President Joe Biden – the two leaders first call in seven months.
A White House Statement confirmed that the two leaders held a conversation, which was described as a “broad, strategic discussion in which they discussed areas where our interests converge”.
This phone call is just the second phone call held between the two leaders, since President Biden took office.
Relations between the two countries have been tense in recent times, with clashes over issues like trade, espionage and the pandemic.
“This discussion, as President Biden made clear, was part of the United States’ ongoing effort to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and the PRC,”
“The two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict.”
In early 2021, high-level talks between the Biden administration and China were fraught with tension – with officials on both side exchanging sharp rebukes.
During that initial meeting, Chinese officials claimed the US was inciting countries “to attack China”, while the US said China had “arrived intent on grandstanding”.
