U.S. - China Talks

President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for 90 minutes on Thursday in their first talks in 7 months, discussing the need to ensure that competition between the world's two largest economies does not veer into conflict. The U.S. side said the "proof will be in the pudding" as to whether the stalemate can be broken with ties between the superpowers languishing at their lowest point in decades. The 2 sides have lashed out at each other continually, often with vitriolic public attacks, sanctions on officials, and criticism over not upholding international obligations. The White House said Biden and Xi had "a broad, strategic discussion," including areas where interests and values converge and diverge. The conversation focused on economic issues, COVID-19, and climate change. United States senior diplomat Wang Yi has said climate change was an "oasis" in China-U.S. relations, but it could not be separated from broader disputes. Xi said that if "core concerns" on both sides were respected, diplomatic breakthroughs could be made in the area of climate change, adding that the issue could add "positive factors" to the relationship.