“Be careful”
Biden on Xi: China dependent on the West
07/08/2023 08:49 am
China is still on Russia’s side in the Ukraine war. With regard to this position, US President Biden emphasized to his counterpart Xi how dependent Beijing is on Western investments. In an interview, Biden reveals his reaction to this.
US President Joe Biden called on China’s President Xi Jinping to be cautious about the importance of Western investment to China after his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. “Since Russia attacked Ukraine, 600 American companies have pulled out of Russia. And you told me that your economy depends on investment from Europe and the United States. Be careful. Be careful,” Biden said in the interview with the US broadcaster CNN and added: “I said: This is not a threat. This is an observation.”
When asked how Xi reacted, Biden said: “He listened and didn’t argue. And you could tell right away that he didn’t attack Russia with full force.” He assumes that there is a way “this problem” can be overcome, the US President continued in the CNN interview.
Putin and Xi had held two days of talks in March, during which they commented on China-Russia friendship and jointly criticized the West, but showed no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough on the Ukraine issue. Earlier this week, the two heads of state also attended a virtual summit.
Yellen tries to get closer
Tensions in US-China relations have continued to escalate over national security issues, Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine, increasing US export bans on cutting-edge technologies and China’s state-managed industrial policies. For this reason, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is currently visiting China to promote better exchanges between the two great powers.
From there tweeted Yellen for meeting with Chinese Premier Li Quiang, during which she stressed Biden’s “desire for a healthy economic relationship with China.” Shortly after arriving in Beijing on Thursday, she explained that this trip was an opportunity for communication and avoiding misunderstandings.