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‘Prospects for US-China trade, military talks rise’ with Xi-Biden call
- US and Chinese presidents focus on way forward in first phone conversation in six months
- Resumption of negotiations to resolve the trade war could follow, analyst says
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In their first phone call in six months, the leaders of the US and China agreed to manage the growing rivalry between their two countries to stop it from devolving into conflict – a pledge seen as raising prospects for talks as both nations face pressure to improve ties.
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White House officials said US President Joe Biden initiated the 90-minute call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and the talks focused on the way forward for the troubled bilateral relationship.
Beijing said Xi called for courage to put China-US ties back on track, because confrontation would mean only suffering for the world.
“[Maintaining a good relationship between China and the US] is a question of the century to which the two countries must provide a good answer ... Getting the relationship right is not an option, but something we must do and must do well,” the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Xi as saying.
It was the first phone call between Xi and Biden since February.
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Officials from both countries have had talks in that time, but without apparent results. And wrangling over protocol has prevented high-level military contact.
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