Salamat and handshakes support the G20 and Washington’s relations with Beijing

US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shook hands at the start of the summit in Bali, Indonesia yesterday. When the Chinese president greeted his American counterpart, Biden smiled and said, “It’s good to see you,” sparking tense talks expected to last two hours. Biden assured Xi there was no “alternative” to direct talks, expressing hope to avoid a “conflict” between Washington and Beijing. For his part, Xi told the US president, “We all care a lot” about US-China relations. He added that he was ready for “frank” negotiations with Biden on strategic issues. In addition, China said through foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning that it hoped the G20 meeting would get its relationship with the United States “back on track” following the expected meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden ahead of the G20. summit in Indonesia. The Chinese authorities are very hopeful of rebuilding their relationship with the United States, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said yesterday. Asked by Agence France-Presse during a regular press conference about China’s expectations for direct talks in Bali, Mao Ning said, “We hope the United States will work with China to control differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculation to advance the relationship. “The US and China are on the right track for both healthy and sustainable development.” Relations between the two countries are showing acute tensions, especially after US official Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August.