China, US Must Communicate, Xi Tells Biden

President Xi Jinping told US leader Joe Biden during their virtual summit on Tuesday that the two nations must improve "communication" and face challenges "together," amid heightened tensions.

"China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation," Xi said, adding that he was happy to "see my old friend" Biden and that he was ready to work with the US leader.

"Humanity lives in a global village," and nations must "face challenges together," Xi added.

The US president said the rivals should seek to avoid "conflict."

Biden told Xi the two sides need "guardrails" to prevent any US-China "conflict," and added that he hoped the leaders of the two largest economies would have a "candid and forthright discussion".

The two leaders have spoken by phone twice since Biden's inauguration in January but with Xi declining to travel abroad because of the pandemic, an online video meeting was the only option short of an in-person summit. (AFP)