China gives Biden’s dig at Xi lacking ‘D’ bone a pass; calls for managing differences

Beijing, Feb 8: China on Monday chose to ignore US President Joe Biden’s comment that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping lacked a democratic bone in his body but said the two countries should focus on cooperation and manage their differences.
In an interview to CBS television on Saturday, Biden acknowledged that he is yet to speak with President Xi since his swearing in on January 20, but said he had met him many times when they were Vice Presidents of their respective countries in the past. “I know him pretty well,” Biden said, adding that when they do speak, they will have “a whole lot to talk about.” Biden, 78, the oldest American president, described Xi, 67, as “very bright” and “very tough” but without “a democratic, small D, bone in his body”, highlighting the autocratic style of functioning of the Chinese leader.
Asked for his reaction to Biden’s “D bone” remark, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin evaded a direct reply. “President Xi Jinping has had many contacts with President Biden.
Maintaining communication between China and the US at all levels is conducive to mutual understanding and to the development of bilateral relations,” he said.
“China is committed to developing a relationship with the US that is non-conflictual, based on non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation,” he said. “Meanwhile, China will continue to firmly safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides should meet each other halfway, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and promote the sound and steady development of China-US relations, to the greater benefit of their two peoples and to the people of all other countries around the world,” he said. After the Biden administration assumed power last month, speculation was rife about the likely course of policy the US president would pursue in the light of hardline Beijing policy pursued by his predecessor Donald Trump during which the ties between the world’s two largest economies touched a new low. Top diplomats of the two countries had their first contacts on Saturday last. Newly-appointed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi held what observers said was a blunt and outspoken conversation over the phone during which both sides sought to highlight the issues of concerns. (PTI)