Shares
Outgoing US President Joe Biden (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru on Saturday. (Photo: Reuters)
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pledged to work with incoming President Donald Trump in his final meeting with current US leader Joe Biden.
The two met on Saturday on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru where they acknowledged "ups and downs" in relations over Biden's four years in office.
But both highlighted progress in lowering tensions on issues such as trade and Taiwan.
Analysts say US-China relations could become more volatile when Trump returns to office in two months, driven by factors including a promise to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.
The president-elect has pledged 60% tariffs on all imports from China. During his first term, relations worsened when the former president labelled Covid a “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.
Speaking on Saturday at the meeting held at his hotel in Lima, the Chinese president said Beijing's goal of a stable relationship with Washington would remain unchanged.
"China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences," Xi said.
Biden's time in office did see flare-ups in relations with China, including a spy balloon saga and displays of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan triggered by the visit of a senior US official.
Biden on Saturday acknowledged there had always been disagreements with Xi but added that discussions between him and the Chinese leader had been "frank" and "candid".
The pair held three face-to-face meetings during Biden's time in the White House, including a key summit last year in San Francisco where both sides came to agreements on combatting narcotics and climate change.
But Biden's White House also continued Trump-era tariffs. His government imposed duties in May targeting China's electric cars, solar panels and steels.
The outgoing president has also said the US would defend Taiwan if it were invaded by China. (With inputs from BBC)
Shares
.