Editorial | Xi-Biden call reflects critical time in push for stable relations
- Chinese and American presidents took opportunity to have ‘candid’ and ‘constructive’ conversation against backdrop of testing events in region
Summits between the leaders of China and the United States are few and far between. The last one in November ended in agreement to stay in touch between meetings.
Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden did just that on Tuesday in a phone call lasting nearly two hours described by both sides as “candid” and “constructive”, which indicates the two men spoke their minds. For example, state news agency Xinhua said Xi criticised the “endless efforts” of the Biden White House to block the transfer of advanced technology to China.
But such communication at the top helps manage tensions and to avoid misunderstandings.
The phone call had a political backstory. It came ahead of a US presidential election campaign and the inauguration of a new Taiwan leader in May.
Political US campaign rhetoric could test bilateral relations and the talk offered a chance to stabilise them.