Biden speaks with Xi Jinping to express concern about the status quo in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang-BBC News



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Biden and Xi Jinping

New US President Biden had a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time on Wednesday (February 10) evening. According to a statement from the White House, Biden first congratulated the Chinese people on the Spring Festival and then expressed to Xi Jinping the US concerns about China’s “intimidating and unfair” economic policies.

The White House statement stated that Biden emphasized during the call that his first priority is to protect the safety, health and lifestyle of the American people, while keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open. Biden also expressed to Xi Jinping his concern about the Chinese authorities’ crackdown in Hong Kong, the human rights violations in Xinjiang, and the increasingly harsh attitudes towards Taiwan and elsewhere.

The official Chinese news agency Xinhua stated that Xi Jinping told Biden that China and the United States “cooperation will benefit both and fighting will harm both.” Cooperation is the only right option for both parties. The Xinhua News Agency also quoted Xi Jinping as saying that Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China’s internal affairs and related to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States must respect China’s fundamental interests and act with caution.

Biden had already had phone conversations with leaders of many countries, including traditional allies like Canada, Britain and France, as well as with Russian President Putin.

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