China hopes Xi-Biden meeting to explore ‘way of peaceful coexistence’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Monday said it hopes the scheduled meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden will “explore the way of peaceful coexistence with mutual respect in the new era.”

“President Xi will have a candid, in-depth, and thorough discussion with President Biden on strategic issues affecting the future of China-US relations as well as important issues of mutual interest and concern,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Twitter.

“It is hoped that the US will work with China to explore a way of peaceful coexistence with mutual respect in the new era, and bring China-US relations back onto the right track of sound and steady development,” she added.

The two presidents will have their first virtual meeting early Tuesday morning, Beijing time. Since Biden's inauguration in January, they have held two phone calls in February and September.

Hua said: “The China-US relationship has reached a crucial crossroads. The world is watching and expects the meeting to yield positive results.”

Issues ranging from Taiwan, Hong Kong, alleged human rights violations of ethnic Uyghurs, to trade supply chains are expected to dominate the meeting.