US Biden and China's Xi hold first call in seven months

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping

© APA | US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping

# 10 September 2021 08:27 (UTC +04:00)

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his US counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday, their first call in seven months, APA reports citing BBC.

A White House Statement said they had a "broad, strategic discussion in which they discussed areas where our interests converge".

This is only the second call between them since President Biden took office.

US- China relations have been tense, with clashes over issues like trade, espionage and the pandemic.

"This discussion, as President Biden made clear, was part of the United States' ongoing effort to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and the PRC," the White House Statement added.

"The two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

Earlier this year, high-level talks between the Biden administration and China were fraught with tension - with officials on both sides exchanging sharp rebukes.

Chinese officials had accused the US of inciting countries "to attack China", while the US said China had "arrived intent on grandstanding".

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