Biden Tells Xi Jinping 'Committed To Keep Lines Of Communication Open Between You And Me Personally' As They Meet At G20

One of the most anticipated meetings of U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is now underway in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 summit amid the souring U.S.-China relations. 

What Happened: Ahead of the meeting, both leaders gave brief opening remarks and exchanged pleasantries as the administrations prepared for the start of the high-stakes talks, reported CNN. 

From the U.S., Biden led a delegation that included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Ambassador of the United States to the People's Republic of China Nicholas Burns. His Chinese counterpart came prepared with officials, including the Director of the Chinese Communist Party General Office, Ding Xuexiang, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

See Also: Xi Jinping Reportedly Asks China Army To ‘Concentrate All Energy On Fighting A War’ Amid Uncertain, Unstable Times

"Currently, the China-U.S. relationship is in such a situation that we all care a lot about it because this is not the fundamental interest of our two countries and peoples, and it is not what the international community expects (from) us,” Xi said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

He emphasized that as the leader of the two fastest-growing economies, they need to find the course for the bilateral relationship going forward and "elevate the relationship."

Meanwhile, Biden said, "I'm committed to keep lines of communication open between you and me personally," emphasizing that both nations have a lot of global issues "to deal with."

“As leaders of the two major countries we need to chart the right course for the US China relationship. We need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship going forward and elevate the relationship," said President Biden, according to the CNN report.

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