On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden held his 1st official call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, since taking office last month.
In a statement, the White House said that Biden expressed concerns over the situation in Hong Kong, and the violations in Xinjiang, where the Uighurs Muslim minority lives.
During the phone call, Biden and Xi also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation, the statement added.
In a tweet, Biden said, “I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year. I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people.”
I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year. I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 11, 2021
In November, Xi sent congratulated Biden on his election in a message, yet Biden had called him a “thug” during the campaign and vowed to lead an international effort to “pressure, isolate and punish China.”
