Biden held talks with Xi Jinping

US President Joe Biden said in his first phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he was concerned about Beijing’s actions and would protect US interests, the White House said.

“President Biden reaffirmed that his priorities are to protect the security, prosperity, health, and lifestyle of Americans, and to protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.

“President Biden stressed his fundamental concern about Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices, the persecution in Hong Kong, human rights violations in Xinjiang, and the increasingly assertive actions of the People’s Republic of China in the region, including against Taiwan,” the White House said.

“The leaders also exchanged views on confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and common challenges to global health, climate change, and nonproliferation,” the White House added.

“President Biden promised to pursue practical, results-oriented communication (with China) where it is in the interests of the Americans and our allies,” the White House concluded.