US 2020 election: China’s Xi congratulates Biden on victory weeks after other leaders

Weeks after other world leaders recognise Biden’s win, Xi Jinping reiterates appeals for a cordial relationship with US.

Chinese president Xi Jinping, left, has congratulated US president-elect Joe Biden. Pictures: AFP

President Xi Jinping congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory, marking the Chinese leader’s first formal outreach to the incoming administration weeks after many other world leaders sent well wishes.

In the message sent Wednesday Mr. Xi called on Washington to advance bilateral relations. It came after President Trump said Monday his administration would co-operate with Mr. Biden’s transition to the White House, ending a delay amid growing bipartisan criticism as Mr. Trump’s long-shot effort to overturn the election results foundered.

Though a diplomatic formality, Mr. Xi’s message underlined Beijing’s hopes for stabilising a rocky relationship with Washington, which slumped to its lowest level in decades as the Trump administration jousted with China over trade, technological competition and other issues.

In his message to Mr. Biden, Mr. Xi reiterated China’s appeals for a cordial relationship with the U.S. that focuses on co-operation while managing disagreements in a nonconfrontational and mutually respectful way, according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“Promoting healthy and stable development of China-U. S. relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the people in both countries, but also meets the common expectation of the international community,” Mr. Xi said in his message, which didn’t refer directly to ongoing tensions with Washington.

On Nov. 13 a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman congratulated Mr. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, making China one of the last major powers to compliment them on their victory in the Nov. 3 presidential vote.

The last time a Chinese leader didn’t congratulate the winner of a U.S. presidential election the day after the vote was in 2000, when the contest between then-Vice President Al Gore and Republican candidate George W. Bush stretched out for weeks amid a legal battle over a recount in Florida. China’s leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, sent Mr. Bush a congratulatory message the day after Mr. Gore conceded defeat on Dec. 13, 2000.

The results of subsequent presidential elections generally became clear hours after polls closed, and the losing candidates conceded soon after. In 2016, Mr. Xi sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Trump the day after the vote, saying he looked forward to working with him to seek “greater progress” in bilateral relations.

Mr. Xi’s message to Mr. Biden — as reported by Beijing — echoed his 2016 cable in calling for cordial, collaborative and respectful relations with the U.S., though this time the Chinese leader didn’t make a personal appeal to his soon-to-be counterpart, nor did he express hope for “greater progress” in two-way ties.

Vice President Wang Qishan of China separately congratulated Ms. Harris on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Wall Street Journal