President Joe Biden made no reference of the coronavirus pandemic on Monday throughout his opening remarks at a video conference meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.
“I’m happy we’ve found time to fulfill, and I anticipate candid and forthright conversations like all the conversations we’ve had thus far,” Biden stated, including that “we never ever leave questioning what the other guy is believing.”
The president told Xi he would raise locations of concern for the United States, on issues “from human rights, to economics, and a complimentary and open Indo-Pacific” as well as “climate change,” however he did not point out the coronavirus pandemic once throughout his opening remarks.
Biden noted throughout the meeting that he and Xi had a long history of spending quality time together.
“Maybe I ought to begin more officially, despite the fact that you and I have actually never ever been that formal with one another,” he stated.
Biden proposed setting up “guardrails” for both nations to make certain they did not end up conflicting with one another.
“It seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to guarantee the competition between our countries does not divert into conflict, whether planned or unintended,” Biden continued. “Just basic uncomplicated competition.”
He noted that the United States would continue to stand up for global values.
“None of this is a favorite of each of our countries, what we do for one another, but it is just responsible world leadership and you’re a significant world leader therefore is the United States,” he said.
The president was joined by Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and, National Security advisor Jake Sullivan. The press was enabled by the White Home to witness the opening remarks from the two leaders before the conference continued.
President Xi spoke warmly of President Joe Biden during his opening remarks of the meeting.
“It’s the first time for us to meet virtually. Although it is not as excellent as an in person meeting, I’m extremely happy to see my old buddy,” Xi said via a translator.
Xi has not left China for more than 600 days since his last trip in January 2020, but he proposed a virtual conference in action to a Biden ask for a personal meeting.
“Today both China and the United States are at vital phases of global advancement and mankind lives in an international village, and we face numerous difficulties together,” Xi said.
Xi stated that as the 2 largest economies of the world, China and the United States “require to increase communication and cooperation” going forward, especially on problems of “environment change” and the “COVID pandemic”
“China and the United States need to appreciate each other, co-exist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation,” he stated.