Highlights: Biden, in virtual summit with Xi, seeks to prevent 'conflict'
Photograph: (AFP)
<p>On Monday, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping opened a virtual summit calling for more communication between the superpowers and "guardrails" to prevent a conflict.</p> <p>Biden said they must create "guardrails" so that the competition between the two countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended. They would have a "candid" discussion, he said.</p> <p>Referring to Biden as his "old friend," Beijing's Xi said the rivals must work more closely. "China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation," he said.</p>Key Updates
16 Nov 2021, 7:02 (IST)
Xi: We should advance noble cause of world peace
Xi told Biden that both US and China should advance noble cause for world peace.
“A sound and steady relationship between US and China is required…China and US should respect each other, I stand with you, president… I now look forward to discussion on wide ranging issues with you now,” Xi said.
16 Nov 2021, 6:40 (IST)
Xi calls Biden 'my old friend', says China, US must improve 'communication'
China's President Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden Monday during their virtual summit that the two nations must improve "communication" and face challenges "together," amid heightened tensions over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues.
"China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation," Xi said, adding that he was happy to "see my old friend" Biden and that he was ready to work with the US leader.
"Humanity lives in a global village," and nations must "face challenges together," Xi added.
16 Nov 2021, 6:32 (IST)
Biden starts off meeting, tells Xi 'guardrails' needed to prevent US-China 'conflict'
Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping kicked off a high-stakes virtual summit on Tuesday morning—Monday night in US time— aimed at calming tensions over Taiwan and other flashpoints, with the US president saying the rivals should seek to avoid "conflict."
Opening the meeting from the White House, Biden told Xi they need "guardrails" to prevent any US-China "conflict," and added that he hoped the leaders of the two largest economies would have a "candid and forthright discussion."
16 Nov 2021, 6:40 (IST)
Jen Psaki, White House spokeswoman, said Biden was going into the summit, "from a position of strength." It is expected to last a couple of hours. This is after months of building alliances with other democracies to contain China.
In Psaki's words, the meeting is "an opportunity to set the terms of competition with China" and to insist Beijing "play by the rules of the road."
16 Nov 2021, 0:57 (IST)
16 Nov 2021, 0:55 (IST)
Ahead of Biden & Xi’s virtual meeting, China warns US to back off on Taiwan support
In a phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday to discuss preparations for the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned of the dangers of US actions that might seem supportive of “Taiwan independence”.