Xi Jinping sends congratulations to US president-elect Joe Biden

Name: World reactions mixed after Joe Biden’s 2020 US presidential election victory
Uploaded: 2020-11-25T14:27:35.000Z
Duration: 4 min 22 s
Description: World reactions mixed after Joe Biden’s 2020 US presidential election victory

The Chinese leader says it’s in the interests of both countries to promote the healthy and stable development of relations

Wang Qishan also sends congratulatory message to US Senator Kamala Harris, who will become vice-president

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Joe Biden, when he was US vice-president, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping raise a toast in Washington in 2015. Xi has congratulated Biden on his election victory. Photo: AFP

Wendy WuandRobert Delaney

Published: 10:27pm, 25 Nov 2020Updated: 2:59pm, 26 Nov 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message on Wednesday night congratulating Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election, marking Beijing’s formal recognition of the result after Washington officially started the power transition days ago.

Xi said it was in the interests of both countries to promote not only the healthy and stable development of China-US relations but also shared expectations around the world, according to official news agency Xinhua.

“We hope both countries uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage and control conflict, to promote China-US relations towards a healthy and stable path, and advance the noble course of global peace and development jointly with every country and the global community,” Xi said.

Vice-President Wang Qishan also sent congratulations to US Senator Kamala Harris, who will become vice-president, on Wednesday.

Beijing has watched the election closely but strictly followed diplomatic protocol in its response to the result. Wednesday’s official messages came after the US General Services Administration on Tuesday allowed the Biden team to start the formal transition process.

04:22

World reactions mixed after Joe Biden’s 2020 US presidential election victory

Soon after Biden was declared the winner on November 8, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were among the leaders in Europe to congratulate him.

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