Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of "
sympathy
" to his American counterpart Joe Biden, 79, who tested positive for coronavirus, official media reported on Friday (July 22).
The tenant of the White House assured Thursday on Twitter to go “
very well ” and to have only “
light
” symptoms
.
He said he continued to work, while being in solitary confinement.
"
I want to express my sincere sympathy and wish you a speedy recovery
," Xi Jinping wrote in his message, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
A context of tensions
This is the first public contact between the two leaders since their virtual summit four months ago.
China and the United States oppose on many subjects: the position vis-à-vis Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine, Taiwan, trade, technologies or the fate of the Uyghurs.
Xi Jinping and Joe Biden had discussed on March 18 by videoconference.
The American president then warned his Chinese counterpart against any support for Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine.
The two men have known each other personally for more than a decade, when they were both vice-presidents of their countries.
Read alsoJoe Biden in Asia to counter China
Earlier this week, Joe Biden had assured that he would speak to Xi Jinping “
within the next 10 days
”, in the context of heightened Sino-American tensions lately around Taiwan.
Beijing is also headwind against a visit planned soon to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the United States House of Representatives.
She would be the highest institutional American personality to go there in decades.
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