President Biden Holds ‘Good Opportunity’ Talk with Chinese Foreign Minister to Maintain Communication

by Humeyra Pamuk and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, a “good opportunity” to keep the lines of communication open between the two geopolitical rivals, according to the White House.

Wang Yi previously met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as the two countries seek to manage their differences while setting the stage for an expected meeting between Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.

White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Joe Biden still hopes to meet with Xi Jinping soon. However, he could not say whether an agreement regarding a meeting between the two heads of state on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit had been reached.

China has not yet said whether Xi Jinping will attend the summit.

“The president has said he expects to meet again with President Xi. These are two men who have had a long-standing relationship and we are confident that will happen,” John Kirby said.

“According to (the US president), this is a positive development and a good opportunity to continue the conversation,” he added about the meeting between Joe Biden and Wang Yi.

Wang Yi began a three-day visit to the United States on Thursday, the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Washington since Joe Biden took office.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Michael Martina and Steve Holland; Writing by Jonathan Oatis)