President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, on Wednesday met at a summit in California, where they agreed to resume high-level military-to-military communication, Xinhua news agency reported.

Xinhua quoted President Xi as saying that China is "consistently committed to a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States", while stressing that China had interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.

The meeting began with Biden greeting Xi as he stepped out of a limousine at the scenic Filoli country estate near San Francisco, before they shared a quick handshake on the front steps.

Their meeting lasted four hours.

Xi said China hoped both countries could be partners that respected each other and co-existed peacefully. And he said disagreements should not be a chasm that keeps the two countries apart, but both sides should build bridges and appreciate each other's principles and red lines.

Xinhua said the two sides will resume, on the basis of equality and respect, high-level military-to-military communication.

They also agreed to set up a working group on counter-narcotics cooperation and that they committed to working towards a significant increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year.

It said Xi and Biden had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-US relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development.

Xinhua reported that Xi had also said the US should take actions to honour its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence", stop arming the island, and support China's peaceful reunification. Xi told Biden during the summit that "China will realise reunification, and this is unstoppable".

“I also stressed the importance of peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait," Biden told a press conference after the talks.

“I reiterated what I've said since I've become president, what every previous president of late has said, that we maintain the agreement that there is a one-China policy and that I'm not going to change that. That's not going to change."

The two leaders also agreed to set up Sino-US talks on artificial intelligence.

During their meeting, Xi said: "conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides."

"For two large countries like China and United States, turning their back on each other is not an option," he said.

"Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed," he added.

In his remarks, Biden said that tensions should "not veer into conflict".

"We've known each other for a long time. We haven't always agreed, which is not a surprise to anyone, but our meetings have always been candid and straightforward and useful," he said.

"I think it's paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, but [with] no misconceptions or miscommunication. We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict."

At a dinner banquet later in the day, Xi said the US should not see China as its primary competitor.

"To steer the giant ship of China-US relations clear of hidden rocks and shoals, one fundamental and overarching question needs to be answered: Are we adversaries, or partners?"

Xi also told the banquet – held by friendly organisations in the US – that China does not seek spheres of influence.

"Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion, and will never impose its will on others," Xi said.

Separately, Biden told the press conference: "I have just concluded several hours of meetings with President Xi and I believe they are some of the most constructive and productive discussions we've had."

Biden also said while the two leaders disagreed on many issues, Xi had "just been straight" with him during the talks on Wednesday. (Xinhua, AFP)
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Last updated: 2023-11-16 HKT 13:29