Biden in critical talks with President Xi Jinping amid fierce tensions

US President Joe Biden called for better and more “honest” communication between China and the US during a virtual call with Chinese President Xi Jinping where both leaders played up their close relationship.

The two leaders were holding discussions over video conference at a time when the two countries’ relationship is deteriorating over issues including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Beijing’s treatment of the predominantly Muslim Uighurs in its far western region of Xinjiang.

In his opening remarks ahead of the call on Monday night in the US, Biden acknowledged that competition between the US and China was expected but said it was his and Xi’s personal responsibility as leaders to ensure that rivalry did not veer into conflict, according to a White House transcript.

“It seems to me we need to establish some common sense guardrails, to be clear and honest where we disagree, and work together where our interests intersect, especially on vital global issues like climate change,” Biden said.

“And I think it’s very important, as I’ve told other world leaders when they ask about our relationship, is that we have always communicated with one another — with one another very honestly and candidly,” he also said. “We never walk away wondering what the other man is thinking.”

Biden’s comments contrast with the early days of his administration when a meeting in March between top US and Chinese officials turned into an acrimonious confrontation as Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat and a member of the Politburo, told Secretary of State Antony Blinken not to meddle in China’s internal affairs.

Since then, the Biden administration and Beijing have traded barbs over sensitive topics, including recent Chinese incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone. China claims the island, a self-ruled democracy of more than 23 million people, as its own, while the US views it as a key ally in its Indo-Pacific defence strategy.

Biden has also made comments characterising competition with China as a conflict between democracy and authoritarianism, while he has also personally compared China’s treatment of Uighurs as similar to the Holocaust.

Speaking from Beijing, Xi said the two countries faced multiple challenges.

He referred to Biden as “my old friend,” and said the rivals must work more closely together. “China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation,” he said.

The two leaders have spoken by phone twice since Biden’s inauguration in January, but Xi has not travelled overseas since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, ruling out the chance of a face-to-face summit.

The discussion lasted for about four hours, wrapping up shortly before 12.30pm (04:30 GMT) Beijing time, according to Chinese state media.

The two men previously met in person while each was serving as vice president under the leadership of Barack Obama and Hu Jintao respectively.

In a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted Taiwan as a critical point of contention between the two countries.