China US Photo: VCG

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden achieved the expected goals of in-depth communication, drawing the redlines, preventing conflict, pointing out a clear direction for China-US relations and discussing cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told media after the meeting of the two leaders. 

Xi met Biden in Bali, Indonesia on Monday, marking the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies since Biden took office. 

During the meeting, which reportedly lasted about three hours and 12 minutes, Xi told Biden that as leaders of two major countries, they need to chart the right course and find the right direction for bilateral ties and to elevate the relationship. Xi also stressed that the two countries should take history as a mirror and let it guide the future.

The meeting points out a clear direction that it should prevent China-US relations from derailing and getting out of control, and the two countries should show to the world that they can properly manage the differences and avoid heated competition that leads to confrontation and conflict, Wang said. 

Also, during the meeting, a strategic framework was clarified to jointly discuss on the establishment of the guidelines and principles for China-US relations. China proposed that the two countries should adhere to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation while Biden has also stated on many occasions that the US does not seek a new Cold War with China, does not aim to change China's system, the revitalization of its allies is not targeted at China and does not support "Taiwan independence" and it is not looking for conflict with China, Wang said. 

The two leaders agreed on the importance of establishing the guiding principles of China-US relations, conducted constructive discussion on it and instructed the working teams of the two sides to follow up on consultations to reach an agreement as soon as possible, the Foreign Minister said. 

The two leaders considered that the meeting, is in-depth, candid and constructive, and they instructed the teams of the two countries to follow up the key consensuses reached by the two leaders, to take concrete actions to push the China-US relations to return to a stable track for development, and the two leaders agreed to keep contacts constantly, CCTV reported. 

Wang also said that the meeting helps launching a procedure to implement the consensus of the two leaders, manage and stabilize the China-US relations. 

It should also be pointed out that China has its own long-standing principles and bottom lines, as well as legitimate interests that must be firmly safeguarded and will not yield into any hegemony or bullying, Wang said. The US side should implement Biden's positive remarks into concrete policies and actions, stop containing China and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. 

Xi-Biden meeting and the remarks of the two leaders inject a certain degree of positivity into bilateral relations, which have entered a downward spiral due to the US' ever widening containment strategy against China, and especially after the provocative visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island of Taiwan, according to experts. 

On the Taiwan question, Xi pointed out that China will adhere to the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems," striving for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and best efforts during the meeting, Wang said. 

Xi stressed if there are three serious situations stipulated in the Anti-Secession Law, China will act in accordance with the law. China wants peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits the most, and "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. To maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, it should resolutely oppose and deter "Taiwan independence."

China asked the US to live up to its words and deeds, abide by the one-China policy and provisions of the three joint communiques, fulfill the promise of not supporting "Taiwan independence," and stop blurring and hollowing out the one-China policy, Wang said. It should also restrain and stop "Taiwan independence" secessionists' words and deeds, preventing the situation from being out of control. 

Biden said at the meeting that the US adheres to the one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence," does not support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and does not seek to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China.

The heads of state also exchanged the views on a series of major issues such as democracy and human rights, and Xi told Biden that the so-called democracy vs authoritarianism is a false proposition, which is not a feature of today's world, not in line with the trend of the times. On country's system, Xi said the leadership of Communist Party of China and the socialist system being supported by 1.4 billion Chinese people, serve as fundamental guarantee of China's development and stability. 

Any attempts to subvert the leadership of the CPC and the Chinese socialist system will step on the bottom line, cross the redline, and shake the foundation of the relationship between the two countries, the Chinese leader said. 

On trade issue, Xi said setting up barriers or pushing forward the idea of decoupling completely violated the market rules and trade rules, which will hurt both sides. If the US continues walking down on the wrong path of decoupling, it will eventually shoot itself in the foot.

Wang said the two leaders also exchanged in-depth views on Ukraine crisis and Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Regarding the Ukraine issue, Xi stressed that it should conduct dialogue and negotiation, peaceful resolution as top priority. 

Nuclear weapons cannot be used, and nuclear wars cannot be fought, nuclear crises should be prevented in the Eurasian continent, and joint efforts should be made to ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains and avoid larger humanitarian crises, Xi said. China has always stood on the side of peace and will continue to promote peace and talks.

On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Xi expounded on China's established position, emphasizing that the crux of the Korean Peninsula issue should be faced squarely, and the respective concerns, especially the legitimate concerns of the DPRK, should be addressed in a balanced manner, Wang said. 
 
In summarizing the Xi-Biden meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister said the heads of state of the two countries agreed to continue to maintain regular contact, and at the same time instructed the diplomatic and security teams of the two countries to continue strategic communication, follow up on major issues they discussed, and implement their consensus.

China welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's planned visit to China in following up on discussions between heads of state of the two countries. The finance and trade teams of the two countries will coordinate on macroeconomy and China-US trade, he said.