Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to work with new President Donald Trump during his latest meeting with current US leader Joe Biden.
But President Xi also took the opportunity to spell out China's goals in what appears to be a message to Donald Trump and the next administration in Washington.
In a robust report of the meeting later released, Beijing said President Xi had emphasized that “a new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won.” Containing China is reckless, unacceptable and doomed to failure.”
Xi also said a stable relationship between China and the United States was “critical for both sides and the world.”
The two met on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru on Saturday, where they acknowledged “ups and downs” in relations during Biden's four years in office.
Speaking at Saturday's meeting, held at President Xi's hotel in Lima, the leader said that while the United States and China “treat each other as adversaries or enemies, “engage in vicious competition and harm each other, China-US relations will experience setbacks, or even setbacks.” regressions”.
He added that Beijing's goal of a stable relationship with Washington would remain unchanged and that it would work with the new US administration “to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage disputes.”
Biden, meanwhile, said strategic competition between the two world powers should not escalate into war.
“Our two countries cannot let this competition degenerate into conflict. It is our responsibility and over the last four years I think we have proven that it is possible to have this relationship,” he said. declared.
Both leaders highlighted progress in reducing tensions on issues such as trade and Taiwan.
Analysts say U.S.-China relations could become more volatile when Trump returns to power in two months, due to factors including the promise to increase tariffs on Chinese imports.
The president-elect has promised 60% tariffs on all imports from China. He has also appointed prominent China hawks to high foreign and defense positions.
During his first term, Trump called Beijing a “strategic competitor.” Relations deteriorated when he referred to Covid as the “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.
Biden's term has been marked by an upsurge in relations with China, including a spy balloon saga and displays of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan sparked by a visit by a top U.S. official.
China says its claim to the autonomous island constitutes a red line.
However, the Biden administration aimed to “responsibly manage” the rivalry with Beijing after Trump's first term.
Analysts say Beijing will likely be more concerned about the president-elect's unpredictability.
“The Chinese are willing to negotiate and negotiate, and are likely hoping for early engagement with the Trump team to discuss potential transactions,” said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific program.
“But at the same time, they are ready to retaliate if Trump persists in imposing higher tariffs on China.”
She added that China could also be “probably worried that it lacks reliable channels to influence Trump's policies.”
Biden acknowledged Saturday that there had always been disagreements with Xi, but added that discussions between him and the Chinese leader had been “frank” and “frank.”
The two held three face-to-face meetings during Biden's tenure in the White House, including a key summit last year in San Francisco where the two sides reached agreements on counternarcotics and climate change.
But the Biden White House also maintained Trump-era tariffs. His government imposed tariffs in May on electric cars, solar panels and Chinese steel.
It has also strengthened defense alliances in Asia and the Pacific to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region. The outgoing president also said the United States would defend Taiwan if it were invaded by China.
