China US Photo:IC

The US' China policy has resulted in serious difficulties in bilateral relations and runs counter to the fundamental interests of the peoples in the two countries and the common interests of all countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said to US President Joe Biden on Friday over the phone, in the first call in seven months since February and days after the Taliban announced an interim government following the US' pull-out from Afghanistan.

When China and the US work together, both countries and the world will benefit. Both countries and the world will suffer if the two confront each other, Xi said. 

Getting the relationship right is not optional, but something we must do and must do well, he said. 

Upon invitation, Xi held candid, in-depth and broad strategic communication and exchanges on China-US relations and relevant issues of mutual interest with Biden. 

China and the US should shoulder big responsibility, move forward, demonstrate strategic and political courage and bring China-US relations back to the right track of stable development as soon as possible so as to bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries and the rest of the world, Xi said.

Based on respecting each other's core concerns and properly managing differences, Xi said that relevant departments of the two countries can continue contact and dialogue, advance coordination and cooperation on climate change, epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery and major international and regional issues, and tap into more cooperation potential to add more positive factors to bilateral relations.

Biden said the US has no intention to change the one-China policy, and it's ready to engage in more candid exchanges with China to identify priorities for bilateral cooperation to avoid misunderstanding, miscalculation and accidental conflict and bring bilateral ties back on track.

The US looks forward to strengthening communication and cooperation with China on climate change and other important issues, Biden said.

Friday's phone call was the second between leaders of the two countries since Biden took office. Xi took the first call from Biden on the eve of Chinese Lunar New Year.

Global Times