According to a senior administration official, President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping of China late Wednesday, their first call since Biden took office.
Against the background of escalating tensions between the two countries, the introductory call between the leaders of the world's two largest economies touched on several issues.
Before the call, the official said that Biden would also call on Xi to speak out about the human rights abuses of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China and the hostile actions against Hong Kong.
The senior official said before the phone call that Biden planned to "indicate that this isn't just about American values, it's about universal values".
A readout of the call released Wednesday evening by the White House said Biden "affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific."
Before the call, the official said that Biden would also call on Xi to speak out about the human rights abuses of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China and the hostile actions against Hong Kong.
The senior official said before the phone call that Biden planned to "indicate that this isn't just about American values, it's about universal values,"
A readout of the call released Wednesday evening by the White House said Biden "affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific."
We have maintained the tariffs that were laid down over the course of the past few years, not because we think that that trade war was particularly successful, but rather because we believe that we have to very carefully, in consultation with allies and partners, in consultation with the Congress, work through the sources of leverage we have," the senior official said.
SOURCE- CNN
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