Xi lays out ‘three principles’ for China-U.S. relations ‘in a new era’

BEIJING — U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met virtually Tuesday in the closest communication between the two countries’ leaders since Biden took office in January.

Xi said during the meeting that for China and the U.S. to get along “in a new era,” both sides should follow the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation Chinese state media said, according to a CNBC translation. Beijing typically uses language like “mutual respect” in calling for more favorable terms from the U.S.

The Biden administration did not immediately release a statement at the close of the meeting.

“The meeting [was] wide-ranging, in-depth, candid, constructive, substantive and productive,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Twitter. “It helps increase mutual understanding.”

Tensions between the two nations escalated under former U.S. President Donald Trump, beginning with trade and tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods.

Biden and Xi ended their meeting shortly before 12:30 p.m. Beijing time (11:30 p.m. ET Monday), almost four hours after it started, according to Chinese state media.

The virtual meeting kicked off with a positive tone and cordial remarks. Xi said he was “very happy” to see his “old friend,” while Biden said the two “have never been that formal with one another,” according to a White House readout of the meeting’s opening remarks.

“Our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended,” the U.S. president said. “Just simple, straightforward competition.”

Both leaders said it would be better to meet in person, and called for increased communication.

The Chinese leader also “expressed his readiness to work with President Biden to build consensus and take active steps to move China-US relations forward in a positive direction,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Xi emphasized the necessity of a “sound and steady” relationship between the two countries, the press release said.

From China, those who attended the virtual meeting included China’s Vice Premier Liu He, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng, along with Ding Xuexiang, director of the general office of the CCP’s central committee, and Yang Jiechi, director of the committee’s foreign affairs office.

On the U.S. side, attendees included Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Three representatives from the National Security Council also joined: Kurt Campbell, deputy assistant to the president and coordinator for the Indo-Pacific; Laura Rosenberger, special assistant to the president and senior director for China; and Jon Czin, director for China.

Despite the Trump administration’s focus on trade, a senior Biden administration official told reporters ahead of the call that tariffs would not likely be on the agenda. The meeting is about U.S. efforts to manage competition with China, not about particular goals or an outcome, the official said.

The high-level meeting is important for ensuring the competition does not lead to conflict, the official said.

Controversy over Taiwan is a point of tension between China and the U.S. Beijing considers the island, which operates its own democratic government, part of the Beijing-based government’s territory.