Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pledged to work with incoming President Donald Trump in his last meeting with current US leader Joe Biden.
The two met on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru on Saturday, where they acknowledged the “up and downs” in the relationship during Biden’s four years in office.
But both highlighted progress in easing tensions over issues such as trade and Taiwan.
U.S.-China relations could become more volatile when Trump returns to office in two months, analysts say, due to factors including his promise to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.
The president-elect has promised to impose a 60 percent tariff on all imports from China. He has also appointed prominent China hawks to top foreign and defense positions.
During his first term, Trump described China as a “strategic rival”. Relations soured when the former president labeled Covid the “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.
Addressing a meeting at his hotel in Lima on Saturday, the Chinese president said Beijing’s goal of stable relations with Washington would remain.
“China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, enhance cooperation and manage differences,” Xi said.
Biden said that the strategic competition between the two world powers should not escalate into war.
“Our two countries cannot allow any of this competition to lead to conflict. That is our responsibility and I think that in the last four years we have proven that it is possible to have this relationship,” he said.
Relations with China flared during Biden’s time in office, including a The story of the spy balloon And the display of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan began with a visit by a senior US official.
China says its claim to the self-ruled island is a red line.
However, the Biden administration aimed to “responsibly manage” the hostility with Beijing after Trump’s first term.
Analysts say Beijing is likely most concerned about the unpredictability of the president-elect.
“The Chinese are ready to negotiate and make deals, and possibly hope to be in touch with the Trump team soon to discuss potential transactions,” said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program.
“However, at the same time, they are prepared to retaliate if Trump insists on imposing higher tariffs on China.”
China may also be concerned that it lacks reliable back channels to influence Trump’s policy, he added.
Biden acknowledged on Saturday that there have always been differences of opinion with Xi but added that discussions between him and the Chinese leader had been “frank” and “candid”.
The pair have held three face-to-face meetings during Biden’s tenure at the White House, including a landmark summit in San Francisco last year where the two sides reached an agreement on tackling drugs and climate change.
But Biden’s White House also continued the Trump-era tariffs. His government imposed duties in May targeting Chinese electric cars, solar panels and steel.
It strengthened defense alliances across Asia and the Pacific to counter China’s growing aggression in the region. The outgoing president has also said that the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked it.
