Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on the United States to “not scheme to suppress or contain China” during extensive talks with President Joe Biden near San Francisco on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported.
“China has no plans to surpass or unseat the United States, and the United States should not scheme to suppress or contain China,” Xi said, according to a readout released by China’s state agency Xinhua.
“Both sides should understand each other’s principles and bottom lines, not make or stir up trouble or cross boundaries, (but instead) communicate more, have more dialogue and more discussions, and handle differences and accidents calmly,” Xi said, according to the readout.
The two leaders “emphasized the need for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, maintaining communication and conflict prevention," according to Xinhua.
The meeting marked a significant step forward for the two powers, which have gradually been restoring communications after Beijing cut those ties in August 2022, following a visit from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
The two countries agreed to resume high-level military communication and cooperate on anti-drug crackdown, as well as resume meetings between their defense ministries and maritime military security consultations, and start talks between leaders of theatre commands, Xinhua said.