The much-anticipated phone call of the year took place between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, according to official statements the two Presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations, the situation in Ukraine, and other issues of mutual interest.
In a carefully published narrative, the documents played down any indifference and assessed key issues relating to Ukraine and Chinese trade hostility. President Biden said that 50 years ago, the United States and China made the important choice of issuing the Shanghai Communique. Fifty years on, the U.S.-China relationship has once again come to a critical time. How this relationship develops will shape the world in the 21st century.
He reiterated that the U.S. does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China’s system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the U.S. does not support “Taiwan independence”; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.
He also expressed readiness to stay in close touch with President Xi to set the direction for the U.S.-China relationship.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two leading economies, China and the U.S. must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Xi said.
Xi pointed out the China-U.S. relationship, instead of getting out of the predicament created by the previous U.S. administration, has encountered a growing number of challenges. What’s worth noting, in particular, is that some people in the U.S. have sent a wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” forces, Xi said, adding “this is very dangerous.”
The Chinese President adds that the direct cause for the current situation in the China-U.S. relationship is that parties in US have not followed through on the important common understanding reached by the two Presidents and have not acted on President Biden’s positive statements.
As for Ukraine, President Xi said “China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in China’s history and culture,”.
China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter, advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, adheres to the UN Charter, and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. These are the major principles that underpin China’s approach to the Ukraine crisis, Xi said.
Noting that China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Xi said China is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other affected countries.
“All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace,” Xi said, adding that the U.S. and NATO should also have dialogue with Russia to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine.
“The more complex the situation, the greater the need to remain cool-headed and rational,” Xi said, adding that whatever the circumstances, there is always a need for political courage to create space for peace and leave room for political settlement.
“As two Chinese sayings go, ‘It takes two hands to clap.’ ‘He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off.’ It is imperative that the parties involved demonstrate political will and find a proper settlement in view of both immediate and long-term needs,” Xi said.
Xi said other parties can and should create conditions to that end. The pressing priority is to keep the dialogue and negotiation going, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and cease hostilities as soon as possible.
He said an enduring solution would be for major countries to respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality, refrain from bloc confrontation, and build step by step a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture for the region and for the world.
“China has been doing its best for peace and will continue to play a constructive role,” Xi said.
