Biden on Tuesday said he expected to speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week.
Washington:
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he expected to speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week, but was awaiting confirmation.
Asked if the long-awaited call would take place this week, Biden said: “That’s my expectation, but I’ll let you know when that’s established.”
Any potential conversation between the two presidents will come as relations between the two global superpowers continue to deteriorate over issues including Taiwan, Ukraine and competition in the technology sector.
Biden told reporters about the plan during a meeting with tech CEOs and labor leaders to discuss legislation to address the global microchip shortage, which Democrats attended almost exclusively. when he was isolated at the White House while recovering from Covid-19.
Chip shortages, exacerbated by the coronavirus lockdown in China, are affecting industries that depend on them for goods ranging from cars to smartphones and driving inflation higher.
The Biden administration has viewed efforts to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the United States as a matter of competition with China, with the Senate expected to vote in the coming days on a funding bill aimed at supporting support the efforts of the US technology industry.
Earlier, on Monday, Beijing announced a potential trip by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan next month, warning the US would “take all responsibility for any serious consequences” if she comes. autonomous island – a major exporter of semiconductors – that China claims as part of its territory.
Pelosi has not confirmed the visit but told reporters last week that it was important for us to show support for Taiwan, while denying Congress was pushing for independence.
Xi sent a message of sympathy to Biden on Friday about the US President’s Covid infection, the two leaders’ first public contact since their last virtual summit in March. .
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