Presidents Biden and Xi hold first phone call

Joe Biden, in his first conversation as president with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, spoke of his concern about China’s 'coercive and unfair economic practices' as well as human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, according to a White House account of their telephone call, Report states, citing TASS.

Biden also expressed misgivings about the country’s growing restrictions on political freedoms in Hong Kong and 'increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan,' in the call, which took place Thursday morning Beijing time.

Biden, who wished Xi a happy Lunar New Year, was 'committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies,' the White House said.

According to the readout of the call, the sides 'exchanged views on countering the Covid-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.'