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Xi, Biden in first phone call since 2022, make progress for China-US relations with ‘candid’ exchange of views
- Two leaders described as holding ‘a candid and in-depth exchange of views’ on topics ranging from counter-narcotics cooperation to climate change
- But Xi criticised Biden’s ‘endless stream of measures to suppress China’s economy, trade, science and technology’
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden spoke by phone on Tuesday, as the two countries sought to make headway in their limited areas of aligned interests amid heightening tensions between the two powers.
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“The two heads of state had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on Sino-US relations and issues of common concern to both sides,” state news agency Xinhua reported.
However, it added that Xi criticised the Biden administration’s “endless stream of efforts” to block the transfer of advanced technology to China.
A White House read-out after the call said the leaders “reviewed and encouraged progress on key issues discussed at [their November summit in California], including counter-narcotics cooperation, ongoing military-to-military communication, talks to address AI-related risks and continuing efforts on climate change and people-to-people exchanges”.
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Biden is freezing out China’s tech industry
Biden is freezing out China’s tech industry
Ahead of the call, a senior White House official said Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduling a trip to China in coming weeks and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was also visiting the country this month. The two sides were also expecting a call between their top military officials “soon”.
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