During Meeting with Biden, China's Xi Cautions US to 'Make Wise Choice' to Keep Relations Stable

Lima: China's leer Xi Jinping met for last time with US President Joe Biden on Saturday but was alrey looking ahe to President-elect Donald Trump and his "America first" policies, saying Beijing "is rey to work with a new US ministration".

During ir talks on sidelines of annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Xi cautioned that a stable China-US relationship was critical not only to two nations but also "future and destiny of humanity".

"Make wise choice," he cautioned. "Keep exploring right way for two major countries to get along well with each or." Without mentioning Trump's name, Xi appeared to signal his concern that incoming president's protectionist rhetoric on campaign trail could send US-China relationship into anor valley.

"China is rey to work with a new US ministration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences so as to strive for a stey transition of China-US relationship for benefit of two peoples," Xi said through an interpreter.

Xi, who is firmly entrenched atop China's political hierarchy, spoke forcefully in his brief remarks before reporters. Biden, who is winding down more than 50 years of public service, talked in broer brushstrokes about where relationship between two countries has gone. He reflected not just on past four years but deces two have known each or.

"We haven't always agreed, but our conversations have always been candid and always been frank. We've never kidded one anor," Biden said. "se conversations prevent miscalculations, and y ensure competition between our two countries will not veer into conflict." Biden urged Xi to dissue North Korea from furr deepening its support for Russia's war on Ukraine. leers, with top aides surrounding m, gared around a long rectangle of tables in an expansive conference room at Lima's Defines Hotel and Conference Center.

China "hosted" meeting this year, after Xi and Biden met a year ago on APEC sidelines in norrn California, a garing hosted by US. y h much to discuss, including China's indirect support for Russia, human rights issues, technology and Taiwan, self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as its own. On artificial intelligence, two agreed on need to maintain human control over decision to use nuclear weapons.

re's much uncertainty about what lies ahe in US-China relationship under Trump, who campaigned promising to levy 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports.

Alrey, many American companies, including Nike and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, have been diversifying ir sourcing away from China. Shoe brand Steve Mden says it plans to cut imports from China by as much as 45 per cent next year.

In a congratulatory message to Trump after his victory over Vice-President Kamala Harris, Xi called for US and China to manage ir differences and get along in a new era. In front of cameras Saturday, Xi spoke to Biden -- but it was unmistakable that his message was directed at Trump.

"In a major flourishing sci-tech revolution, neir decoupling nor supply chain disruption is a solution," Xi said. "Only mutual, beneficial cooperation can le to common development. Small yard, high fence is not what a major country should pursue." Biden ministration officials would vise Trump team that managing intense competition with Beijing will likely be most significant foreign policy challenge y will face, White House national security visor Jake Sullivan said.

On Saturday, Sullivan said Biden h reinforced to Xi "that se next two months are a time of transition", and president would like to pass it off "in stable terms" to new ministration.

Biden has viewed his relationship with Xi as among most consequential on international stage and put much effort into cultivating it. two first got to know each or on travels across US and China when both were vice-presidents, interactions that both have said left a lasting impression.

But last four years have presented a stey stream of difficult moments.

FBI this week offered new details of a federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into US telecommunications networks. initial findings have revealed a "bro and significant" cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics.

US intelligence officials also have assessed China has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and or technology that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and or weaponry for use in its war against Ukraine.

Biden is looking for Xi to step up Chinese engagement to prevent an alrey dangerous moment with North Korea from furr escalating.

Biden, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday condemned North Korean leer Kim Jong Un's decision to send thousands of troops to help Moscow repel Ukrainian forces who have seized territory in Russia's Kursk border region.

Biden called it "dangerous and destabilising cooperation".

White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for vast majority of North Korea's tre, for not doing more to rein in Pyongyang.

(This story is not edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)