Sawt Falasteen - Xi tells Biden ready for 'smooth transition' to Trump

The leaders of the world's two largest economies met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Lima amid concerns of new trade wars and diplomatic tensions when Trump returns to the White House in January.

After shaking hands to begin their meeting at the Chinese leader's hotel, Xi noted that Beijing's goals for stable ties with Washington remained unchanged.

"China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a smooth transition of the China-US relationship," he said in translated comments.

Xi and Biden have led efforts to ease tensions over issues from trade to Taiwan, and Saturday's face-to-face was their second meeting since a landmark ice-breaking summit in California last year -- their third overall.

Biden said he was "very proud of the progress we both made together."

"Our two countries cannot let any of this competition veer into conflict. That's our responsibility and over the last four years I think we've proven it's possible to have this relationship," Biden said.

- 'Turbulent world' -

Trump's impending return to the Oval Office, and his appointment of China hawks to top jobs, has stirred fears that tensions could return.

In his first White House term, Trump engaged in a bruising trade war with China, imposing tariffs on imports that saw retaliation from Beijing.

Trump has once again signaled a confrontational approach to Beijing, threatening during the campaign against Democrat Kamala Harris to impose tariffs of up to 60 percent on imports of Chinese goods.

But in pointed comments, Xi said that "China and the United States should bear in mind the interest of the whole world and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world."

US officials had said the two leaders would also discuss tensions over self-governed Taiwan -- which China claims as part of its territory -- and the South China Sea, where Beijing claims large swaths of maritime territory.

The highly-anticipated meeting came after the end of a two-day summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping Xi and Biden had both attended.

Before their encounter, the men had taken part in a closed-door "retreat" with other APEC leaders from countries including Canada, Chile, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Japan.

Russia was represented by a deputy prime minister.

- Choppy waters -

Billionaire Trump's comeback cast a cloud of uncertainty over the meeting -- and will do the same over a meeting of G20 leaders in Rio de Janeiro next week.

Xi and Biden warned separately in recent days of choppy waters ahead in a time of global uncertainty.

The Chinese president reiterated concerns earlier Saturday about mounting "protectionism" -- another apparent swipe at Trump's "America First" policies -- and urged APEC nations to "unite and cooperate."

Contemplating the end of a presidency whose major policies Trump has vowed to upend, Biden said Friday the world had "reached a moment of significant political change."

He has spent the APEC summit trying to shore up relations with key US allies including Japan and South Korea.

Trump's return threatens alliances Biden has built on issues ranging from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to climate change and trade.

Economists have meanwhile warned Trump's punitive tariffs would harm not only China's economy but also that of the United States and its trading partners.

Trump is also casting a pall over Biden's policies on climate change, with his threats to leave international pacts and increase drilling for fossil fuels.

Biden will become the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest when he stops in the Brazilian city of Manaus on Sunday on the way to Rio for the G20 meeting, where Xi is also headed.

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L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST